Lemon Pavlova Food

LEMON PAVLOVA

Steps:

• To prepare lemon curd: Whisk whole egg, 2 egg whites, granulated sugar, lemon zest and lemon juice in a medium nonreactive saucepan (see Tips). Add butter and cook over low heat, whisking constantly, until the mixture is thick enough that drawing your finger across a coated spoon leaves a mark, 5 to 12 minutes. Do not let the sauce come to a simmer. Pour the hot curd through a fine-meshed sieve into a small bowl, pressing on the solids. Let cool slightly and refrigerate until chilled, about 4 hours.
• To prepare meringue: Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Draw a 9-inch circle with a pencil in the center of the paper to use as a guide for your pavlova, then turn the paper over so it's pencil-side down.
• Beat 4 egg whites, cream of tartar and salt in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form. Increase the mixer speed to high and gradually beat in superfine sugar. Continue beating until stiff and glossy. (See Tips.)
• Use the back of a spoon or a rubber spatula to spread the meringue into a 9-inch circle (using the guide) on the parchment. Smooth and level the center and make the edges slightly higher so there is a shallow depression in the middle. (It does not have to be completely smooth.) Bake the meringue for 1 hour.
• Reduce the oven temperature to 200 degrees and continue baking for 1 hour more. The meringue should feel firm when gently touched.
• Turn off the oven, leave the door ajar and let the meringue sit in the oven until cool, about 1 hour. (As it cools, the exterior will crack in spots.)
• To prepare topping: Just before serving, whip cream in a small bowl with an electric mixer until starting to thicken. Add confectioners' sugar and continue whipping until soft peaks form.
• To assemble pavlova: Use a large spatula or chef's knife to carefully separate the meringue from the parchment and slide it onto a large flat serving platter. Fill the center depression with the lemon curd and pile the whipped cream in the center of the curd. Cut into wedges with a sharp knife. Serve immediately.

LEMON PAVLOVAS WITH BERRIES

Steps:

• Pavlovas: Put an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
• In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites until thick, about 2 minutes. With the machine on medium-high speed, gradually add the sugar, about 1 tablespoon at a time. Add the salt, cream of tartar and lemon zest. Increase the speed to high and beat until the mixture holds stiff peaks, about 3 to 4 minutes. Drop 8 (1/2) cupfuls of the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Using the back of a spoon make a 1 1/2-inch diameter well in the center of each meringue. Bake for 2 hours. Turn off the oven and allow the meringues to cool completely in the oven for 2 hours. Store airtight in a plastic container for up to 1 week.
• Berries: In a small bowl, toss together the berries, sugar and lemon juice. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
• Cream: In a small bowl, mix together the cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth.
• Assembly: Put the meringues on small plates and spoon a dollop of the mascarpone cream into the wells. Top with the berries and serve.
• Cook's Note: If using blueberries, gently mash them with a fork before mixing with the sugar and lemon juice.
• Cook's Note: The meringue mixture can also be placed in a pastry bag fitted with a large, plain tip (recommended: Ateco # 9808) and piped onto the baking sheet.

LEMON PAVLOVA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C (350 degrees F)/gas mark 4 and line a baking tray with baking parchment.
• Beat the egg whites until satiny peaks form, then beat in the sugar a spoonful at a time until the meringue is stiff and shiny.
• Sprinkle the cornflour (cornstarch) over the meringue, then grate in the zest--a fine microplane is best for this--of 1 lemon and add 2 teaspoons of lemon juice.
• Gently fold until everything is thoroughly mixed. Mound onto the lined baking tray in a fat circle approximately 23 centimeters (10 inches) in diameter, smoothing the sides and the top with a knife or spatula.
• Place in the oven, then immediately turn the temperature down to 150 degrees C(300 degrees F) /gas mark 2, and cook for 1 hour.
• Remove from the oven and leave to cool, but don't leave it anywhere cold as this will make it crack too quickly. If you think your kitchen is too cool, then leave the pavlova inside the oven with the door completely open. When you're ready to eat, turn the pavlova onto a large flat plate or board with the underside uppermost--I do this before I sit down to the meal in question and let it stand till pudding time. This is so the tender marshmallow belly of the pav melds with the soft topping.
• Toast the flaked almonds, by frying them in a dry pan over a medium to high heat until they have started to colour. Shake the pan at regular intervals and don't let them burn. This doesn't take more than a minute or so. When they're done, remove to a cold plate so that they don't carry on cooking.
• Whip the cream until thick and airy but still with a soft voluptuousness about it, and set it aside for a mo.
• Put the lemon curd into a bowl and beat it with a wooden spoon or spatula to loosen it a little. Taste the lemon curd (if it's shop-bought) and add some lemon zest and a spritz of juice if it's too sweet.
• With a light hand, a glad heart and a spatula, spread the lemon curd on top of the meringue base. Now top with the whipped cream, peaking it rather as if it were a meringue topping. Sprinkle with the zest of the remaining lemon--you can grate this finely or coarsely as you wish--followed by the flaked almonds, and serve triumphantly.

HIBISCUS PAVLOVA WITH LEMON-HIBISCUS CREAM

Steps:

• For the meringue:
• Preheat oven to 250°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. In a small bowl, whisk together 2 tsp. superfine sugar, cornstarch, and salt, breaking up any lumps; set aside.
• Grind flowers or tea leaves (cut open bags, remove tea, and discard bags) in a spice mill or food processor until very finely ground; set aside.
• Using an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat egg whites and cream of tartar or vinegar on medium-high speed until the mixture transforms from frothy soapsuds to soft, opaque peaks, about 3 minutes. You should see tracks from the whisk on the surface of the whites.
• Add the remaining 1/2 cup sugar slowly, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating to incorporate fully before adding the next spoonful, 5-8 minutes total. Continue to beat on medium-high speed until stiff, glossy peaks form, about 2 minutes more. Test to see if sugar is fully dissolved by rubbing a small amount between your fingertips. If it still feels gritty, keep beating until dissolved.
• Sprinkle the sugar, cornstarch, and salt mixture over egg whites and fold in gently with a spatula. Using a fine-mesh strainer, sift 1 Tbsp. reserved ground tea over mixture and fold in gently. Reserve remaining ground tea.
• Using a large spoon, divide meringue into 6 even mounds on the prepared baking sheet. Using the back of the spoon, make a small well in the center of each meringue. Lightly dust 1 tsp. reserved ground tea with fine-mesh strainer over meringues. Reserve remaining ground tea.
• Bake, rotating halfway through cooking time, until outsides are dry and a very pale cream color, 65-70 minutes. Turn oven off and leave door slightly ajar with meringues inside, letting them cool completely, at least 2 hours or up to overnight.
• For the hibiscus syrup:
• Bring 1 cup water to a boil in a small pot. Remove from heat and steep dried hibiscus flowers or tea bags, 4-5 minutes. Strain tea or discard tea bags; if straining, strain into a medium bowl, then return tea to pot. Add sugar and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the liquid, stirring occasionally, until a scant 1/4 cup liquid is left, 8-11 minutes-it should be thick with a syrupy consistency. Transfer to a small bowl and chill until cold, about 20 minutes.
• For the lemon-hibiscus cream:
• Using an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat cream on medium-low speed in a large bowl until very soft peaks form. Reduce speed to low and gently beat in lemon curd, sour cream, and salt. If necessary, continue whipping until soft peaks return. Drizzle 1 Tbsp. chilled hibiscus syrup over whipped cream. Using a spatula, marble syrup throughout cream, creating dark pink streaks rather than a solid pink cream.
• Assemble the dessert:
• Divide meringues among 6 dessert plates, then top each with a dollop of lemon-hibiscus cream. Using a fine-mesh strainer, lightly dust top of each pavlova with 1 tsp. reserved ground tea total, if desired, and serve immediately.

LEMON BLUEBERRY PAVLOVA

Steps:

• Prepare lemon curd filling: Cut butter into small pieces and set aside.
• Separate eggs, placing yolks in a heat-proof bowl and whites in glass, metal, or ceramic bowl. Cover egg whites and leave on the counter to come to room temperature for the meringue.
• Add lemon zest, salt, sugar, and lemon juice to egg yolks. Whisk until thoroughly combined.
• Add 1 to 2 inches water to a saucepan over low heat; bring to a simmer. Place bowl of filling over the simmering water. Cook, stirring constantly with a spatula, until mixture is very hot to the touch and thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Stir in butter, 3 or 4 pieces at a time, waiting until butter has melted before each addition. Remove from the heat and pour filling into a bowl to cool, about 15 minutes. Lay plastic wrap on top of the filling, pressing down so it doesn't develop a skin, and place in the refrigerator until well chilled, 2 to 3 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with a silicone liner, such as Silpat®. Lightly spray with cooking spray.
• Begin meringue: Mix cornstarch into sugar and set aside.
• Add cream of tartar, lemon juice, and vanilla to the reserved egg whites. Whisk with a large whisk until very soft peaks form, about 3 minutes. Whisk in sugar mixture, 2 tablespoons at a time, whisking about 1 minute between each addition, until incorporated. When all sugar mixture has been added, continue to whisk until relatively stiff peaks form and whites are firm enough to hold their shape.
• Use 2 spoons or a piping bag to transfer whites onto the prepared baking sheet, forming a ring of dollops about 8 or 9 inches across. Fill in the middle with meringue, then go back around the edges adding more meringue to build up the outside edge.
• Bake in the center of the preheated oven for exactly 1 hour. At 1 hour, turn off the oven and crack the door. Let meringue sit in the oven until its cooled completely, about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, prepare blueberry sauce: combine 1 cup blueberries, sugar, and water in a saucepan over medium heat; bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until blueberries collapse and liquid thickens, about 10 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and pass through a fine mesh strainer. Place in the refrigerator until fully chilled, about 45 minutes.
• Very carefully transfer cooled meringue to a serving platter using 2 large spatulas if necessary; you may get some cracks but that's okay. Use a spoon to crack the center a bit to make room for the filling.
• Fill the center with chilled lemon curd filling. Place remaining blueberries over top and drizzle with blueberry sauce. Garnish with mint.

PAVLOVA WITH LEMON CURD AND BERRIES

Steps:

• Make meringue:
• Preheat oven to 300°F with rack in middle. Trace an approximately 7-inch circle on a sheet of parchment paper. Turn parchment over and put on a baking sheet.
• Whisk together superfine sugar and cornstarch in a small bowl.
• Beat whites with a pinch of salt using an electric mixer at medium speed until they hold soft peaks. Add water (whites will loosen) and beat until whites again hold soft peaks.
• Increase speed to medium-high and beat in sugar mixture 1 tablespoon at a time. After all sugar has been added, beat 1 minute more.
• Add vinegar and beat at high speed until meringue is glossy and holds stiff peaks, about 5 minutes (longer if using hand-held mixer).
• Gently spread meringue inside circle on parchment, making edge of meringue slightly higher than center (the "crater" is for curd and fruit). Bake until meringue is pale golden and has a crust, about 45 minutes (inside will still be marshmallow-like).
• Turn oven off and prop door open slightly with a wooden spoon. Cool meringue in oven 1 hour.
• Make Lemon curd while meringue bakes:
• Stir together sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a 2-quart heavy saucepan, then add lemon juice and butter. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, whisking, then continue to simmer, whisking constantly, 1 minute. Lightly beat yolks in a small bowl and whisk in 1/4 cup lemon mixture, then whisk into remaining lemon mixture in saucepan. Reduce heat to low and cook, whisking constantly, until curd is thickened, about 2 minutes (do not let boil). Transfer to a bowl and stir in zest. Chill, surface covered with parchment, until cool, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Assemble Pavlova:
• Beat heavy cream until it just holds stiff peaks, then fold 1/4 cup beaten cream into curd to lighten. Spoon lemon curd into meringue and mound berries on top. Serve remaining whipped cream on the side.

LEMON PAVLOVA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 4/350°F and line a baking tray with baking parchment.
• Beat the egg whites until satiny peaks form, then beat in the sugar a spoonful at a time until the meringue is stiff and shiny.
• Sprinkle the cornflour over the meringue, then grate in the zest - a fine microplane is best for this - of 1 lemon and add 2 teaspoons of lemon juice.
• Gently fold until everything is thoroughly mixed inches Mound onto the lined baking tray in a fat circle approximately 23cm/10inches in diameter, smoothing the sides and the top with a knife or spatula.
• Place in the oven, then immediately turn the temperature down to 150°C/gas mark 2/300°F, and cook for 1 hour.
• Remove from the oven and leave to cool, but don't leave it anywhere cold as this will make it crack too quickly. If you think your kitchen is too cool, then leave the pavlova inside the oven with the door completely open. When you're ready to eat, turn the pavlova onto a large flat plate or board with the underside uppermost - I do this before I sit down to the meal in question and let it stand till pudding time. This is so the tender marshmallow belly of the pav melds with the soft topping.
• Toast the flaked almonds, by frying them in a dry pan over a medium to high heat until they have started to colour. Shake the pan at regular intervals and don't let them burn. This doesn't take more than a minute or so. When they're done, remove to a cold plate so that they don't carry on cooking.
• Whip the cream until thick and airy but still with a soft voluptuousness about it, and set it aside for a mo.
• Put the lemon curd into a bowl and beat it with a wooden spoon or spatula to loosen it a little. Taste the lemon curd (if it's shop-bought) and add some lemon zest and a spritz of juice if it's too sweet.
• With a light hand, a glad heart and a spatula, spread the lemon curd on top of the meringue base. Now top with the whipped cream, peaking it rather as if it were a meringue topping. Sprinkle with the zest of the remaining lemon - you can grate this finely or coarsely as you wish - followed by the flaked almonds, and serve triumphantly.
• MAKE AHEAD NOTES: Meringue base can be made 1 day ahead. Store in an airtight container until needed.Curd can be made up to 3 days ahead. Cover and store in fridge until needed. Stir before using.Almonds can be toasted a week ahead. When cold, store in an airtight container at room temperature until needed. Assemble the pavlova about 1 hour ahead of serving.
• STORE NOTE: Leftovers can be stored in fridge, loosely covered with clingfilm, for up to 1 day.

LEMON KIWI PAVLOVA

Steps:

• Lay a sheet of silicon or baking parchment on a baking tray.
• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Whisk the egg whites in a clean, dry bowl until they are stiff.
• Whisk in the sugar a spoonful at a time. Blend the vinegar with the cornflour and whisk it, with the last spoon of sugar, into the egg whites.
• Spread the meringue out to roughly an 8" circle on the baking tray and build up the sides so that they are higher then the centre, this is for the filling.
• Put the baking tray in the centre of the oven, turn the heat down to 300F and bake the meringue for 1 hour. Turn the oven off but leave the pavlova in the oven to become quite cold (otherwise it might split open as it cools).
• Remove the pavlova from the baking tray and place on a serving dish.
• Place the condensed milk, cream and lemon juice in a bowl, beat until blended (taste after you just mixed it, you might want to add more condensed milk or lemon, to suit your taste) and the mixture is thick and creamy, then pile into the centre of the pavlova.
• Place in the fridge and leave to stand for at least 1 hour before serving.
• Peel and slice the kiwi fruit and arrange attractively around the edge of the lemon pavlova just before serving.

SUMMER FRUIT PAVLOVA

Steps:

• If you're using fresh eggs and you have time, freeze the egg whites, then defrost completely (see tip, 'freeze for ease', below). Line a large baking sheet with baking parchment and heat the oven to 120C/100C fan/gas ½. Using a 20cm cake tin or plate as a guide, draw a circle on the parchment, then flip it over.
• Rub the reserved lemon half around the inside of a large bowl. Tip in the egg whites and whisk using an electric whisk until small, foamy bubbles form, about 1-2 mins. Continue to whisk until the egg whites resemble shaving foam, then add the sugar, 1 tbsp at a time, until the meringue is thick and glossy. Rub a dab between your fingertips - if you can feel any grains of sugar, keep whisking for a few minutes more. Add the cornflour and lemon juice, then whisk for another 30 seconds.
• Spoon the meringue mix into the middle of the circle template, then use a palette knife to spread it out to fill the circle, creating a dip in the middle (this will hold the topping later). Run the palette knife up the edges at regular intervals to create ridges, if you like. Bake for 1 hr, then turn off the oven and leave the pavlova to cool completely with the door shut (if you can, leave it overnight).
• For the topping, tip the strawberries into a bowl, dust with the icing sugar and squeeze over a little lemon juice. Mix together and leave to stand for 30 mins. Meanwhile, whisk the ingredients for the cream together until thick and pillowy. Gently stir the raspberries and redcurrants, if using, through the strawberries. Spoon the cream into the middle of the pavlova, then top with the fruit, drizzling over any juice. Scatter over the mint or basil before serving.