Traditional Zabaglione Food

CHEF JOHN'S ZABAGLIONE

Steps:

• Gently stir the strawberries and sugar together in a bowl. Cover and let sit at room temperature until juices release, about 1 hour.
• Divide fruit between 2 small, clear serving bowls or stemmed cocktail glasses.
• Place egg yolks, sugar, and marsala into metal mixing bowl. Set over burner on low heat. Hold rim of bowl with a potholder. Whisk until mixture forms loose peaks, 7 or 8 minutes. Mixture should feel warm to the touch.
• Spoon custard over the strawberries. Serve while custard is still warm.

ZABAGLIONE

Steps:

• In top of a double boiler over simmering water, mix together egg yolks and sugar until sugar has dissolved. Stir in Marsala.
• Whisk mixture until it is thick and foamy; continue cooking, whisking constantly, until mixture is thick and very hot to the touch. Remove from heat and serve immediately over fresh berries in dessert bowls or wine glasses.

ZABAGLIONE WITH BERRIES

Steps:

• Toss 1 quart sliced strawberries with 1 tablespoon sugar in a bowl; let macerate 10 minutes. Put 5 egg yolks, 1 egg white, 3 tablespoons sugar, 1 tablespoon marsala wine, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and a pinch of salt in a large heatproof bowl. Set the bowl over a saucepan of barely simmering water (do not let the bowl touch the water) and whisk vigorously over medium to medium-high heat until thick and creamy, 8 to 10 minutes. Immediately pour over the berries and serve with biscotti.

TRADITIONAL ZABAGLIONE

Steps:

• Set up for a double boiler, making sure that the water in the bottom vessel is not contacting the top vessel. It will scramble your custard if the water touches the top bowl.
• In the top bowl, before setting it above the boiling water, mix all of the ingredients together with a kitchen mixer for at least two minutes. The mixture will thicken slightly and become a bit creamy. Add as much sugar as you like. The more sugar, the riching it will be.
• Once all the ingredients are well mixed, put the double boiler and continue mix with the mixer. DO NOT STOP MIXING, not for a second. If you stop mixing, your custard will scramble.
• Continue cooking until the custard thickens and is 3-4 times it's original size. It will be very airy and even appear similar to that of whip cream.
• Once it has reached the above stage remove it from the heat. If serving it warm, drizzle over fruit and serve. If serving cold, place the bowl in an ice bath and continue mixing until the custard is at least room temperature.
• Once the custard is room temp, spoon the custard into the serving dishes and cover with plastic wrap. Martini glasses make great serving dishes.
• Place the plastic wrap directly on the custard. This will prevent a skin from forming on the top of your custard.
• Chill for 3-6 hours.
• Once chilled and firm, place the fresh berries on top of the custard and serve.
• Enjoy!

ZABAGLIONE

Steps:

• Place ingredients in a 2-quart pot (copper is nice but not essential). If you want to duplicate Cesare's paiolo, which is a pot with a rounded bottom, use a copper or stainless-steel bowl, holding the edge with a pot holder.
• Beat ingredients with a hand mixer at high speed until foamy. Place over medium heat and continue beating. The mixture will thicken and increase greatly in volume. When mixture feels warm, remove the pot from heat. Continue beating, periodically placing the pot back over heat and quickly removing the pot again once the mixture is warm. Do not overheat it or you will curdle the eggs. Practice makes perfect. When ready, the zabaglione will be thick, foamy, and warm - but not hot - to the touch.

ZABAGLIONE

Steps:

• Bring 1-inch of water to a boil in a 4-quart saucepan set over high heat.
• Add the egg yolks and sugar to a large glass bowl. Using an electric hand mixer on the highest speed, beat the eggs and sugar until the mixture is thick, pale yellow, and the sugar is completely dissolved, 4 to 5 minutes. Decrease the mixer speed to low and add the Marsala and salt.
• Decrease the heat to maintain a simmer and put the bowl atop the saucepan with the boiling water, making sure the bottom of the bowl is not touching the water. Beat the mixture on medium speed, until it is thick, frothy, holds a ribbon, and the temperature reaches 145 to 150 degrees F, on an instant-read thermometer.
• Spoon the warm mixture into custard cups or serving glasses and serve immediately or allow to cool slightly. Serve with fresh berries, if desired.

CLASSIC ZABAGLIONE

Steps:

• Have ready an instant-read thermometer in a cup of hot water. In a metal bowl with a whisk or a hand-held electric mixer beat together all ingredients until combined well. Set bowl over a saucepan of barely simmering water and beat mixture until tripled in volume and thermometer registers 140°F, about 5 minutes. To ensure that eggs are cooked, beat mixture 3 minutes more.
• Serve zabaglione immediately.