Delia Smith Pavlova Meringue Food

STRAWBERRY PAVLOVA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 150C/130C fan/gas 2.
• Using a pencil, mark out the circumference of a dinner plate on baking parchment.
• Whisk 4 egg whites with a hand mixer until they form stiff peaks, then whisk in 250g caster sugar, 1 tbsp at a time, until the meringue looks glossy.
• Whisk in 1 tsp white wine vinegar, 1 tsp cornflour and 1 tsp vanilla extract.
• Spread the meringue inside the circle, creating a crater by making the sides a little higher than the middle.
• Bake for 1 hr, then turn off the heat and let the Pavlova cool completely inside the oven.
• When the meringue is cool, chop 100g of the hulled strawberries. Mix them with 100g of the redcurrants and 2 tbsp icing sugar.
• Place in a food processor, blitz until smooth, then push the fruit mixture through a sieve.
• Whip 350ml double cream with the remaining 1 tbsp icing sugar and spread it over the meringue. Put the remaining 400g hulled and halved strawberries and 100g redcurrants on the cream and finally pour the sauce over the whole lot.

MERINGUE/PAVLOVA

Steps:

• PREHEAT THE OVEN to 150C/130C fan/300F/gas 2. Very lightly oil a baking sheet and cover with a sheet of nonstick baking parchment.
• TO WHISK THE EGG WHITES Using an electric mixer, or a bowl and electric hand whisk (ensure both bowl and whisk are spotless), beat the egg whites with the caster sugar until very firm - about 4 minutes - then add the icing sugar, vanilla extract, cornflour and vinegar, and beat for another 3 minutes until very firm and glossy.
• FOR INDIVIDUAL MERINGUES Using a large metal spoon, dollop spoonfuls of the mixture on to the prepared baking sheet, allowing at least 5cm between them. Shape or swirl them to your liking with a spatula or knife, or allow a trail of mixture to flop over backwards, making a peak. FOR A PAVLOVA BASE Using a large metal spoon, scoop the mixture on to the baking paper, then, using the back of the spoon and starting from the centre, spread out and flatten slightly in one sweep, to give a round cushion with a slight dip in the middle. Don't touch the sides as this will spoil the fluid lines.
• TO COOK THE MERINGUES Just before placing them in the oven, reduce the heat to 140C/120C fan/275F/gas 1 and bake on a middle shelf for 35 minutes for individual meringues, 1 hour 10 minutes for a pavlova. Turn off the oven, open the door and leave the meringues to cool gently for a few minutes before removing. Once out of the oven leave in a warm place to cool (this helps prevent excessive cracking, although a few cracks are the norm). Meringue should be marshmallow-soft at the centre, with a fragile and crisp exterior. When cool, carefully detach from the paper and, if made in advance, keep in an airtight container for up to two days.
• TO FINISH A PAVLOVA Whip 300ml double cream with 1 tbsp icing sugar until it forms soft peaks, then pile on to the base and top with fruit of your choosing (passionfruit and berries are especially good)

PERFECT PAVLOVA

Steps:

• Line a large baking sheet with baking parchment. Using an 18cm round cake tin or plate as a guide, draw a circle on the parchment, then flip it over. Heat the oven to 130C/110C fan/gas ½.
• Rub the reserved lemon half around the inside of a large bowl or stand mixer, then wipe with kitchen paper to remove any butter or oil. Tip in the egg whites and whisk with an electric whisk or the mixer on a low speed until the whites form small, foamy bubbles, about 1-2 mins. Keep going until the mix looks like shaving foam, then add the sugar, 1 tbsp at a time, until it's a thick, glossy meringue. Rub some between your fingers - if you can feel any grains of sugar, keep whisking for a few minutes. Add the cornflour, lemon juice and vanilla, and whisk for another 30 seconds.
• Spoon the meringue onto the baking parchment, into the centre of the circle, and spread it out to the edges with a palette knife. Swipe the knife around the edge, then smooth the top. Bake for 15 mins, then turn the oven down to 100C/80C fan/gas ¼ and bake for 1 hr. Turn the oven off and leave the pavlova inside to cool for at least 2 hrs, or overnight.
• When you're ready to serve, carefully invert the pavlova and peel away the parchment. Don't worry if it cracks a little - it will be covered by the toppings. Toppings to tryWatermelon, lime & mint sugar pavlovaBanana, tahini & salted caramel pavlovaCherry, almond & vanilla custard pavlova