Passion for Pavlova

Posted by Kathryn @ 9:50 PM

In the middle of winter, when the snow just won't stop, I get a craving for all things that remind me of summertime. I was invited over to a friend's house for dinner... and I knew exactly what to bring for dessert. Pavlova. Pavlova comes in all shapes sizes and flavors, but to continue my recent theme and to make up for the failure of the chocolate ganache cake, I went with a chocolate raspberry version from Nigella Lawson. As you can see.. by the time I got my camera out, we had demolished most of the delectable cloud of fruit and meringue. I have made this many times... it is a gem.

for the chocolate meringue base:

• 6 egg whites
• one and a half cups superfine sugar
• 3 tablespoons best quality cocoa powder, sieved
• 1 teaspoon balsamic or red wine vinegar
• 2 oz bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped for the topping:
• Toppings:
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 4 cups raspberries
• 2-3 tablespoons coarsely grated bittersweet chocolate

Preheat the oven to 350 and line a baking tray with baking paper.

Beat the egg whites until satiny peaks form, and then beat in the sugar a spoonful at a time until the meringue is stiff and shiny. Sprinkle over the cocoa and vinegar, and the chopped chocolate. Then gently fold everything until the cocoa is thoroughly mixed in. Mound on to a baking sheet in a fat circle approximately 9 inches in diameter, smoothing the sides and top. Place in the oven, then immediately turn the temperature down to 300 and cook for about one to one and a quarter hours. When it's ready it should look crisp around the edges and on the sides and be dry on top, but when you prod the centre you should feel the promise of squidginess beneath your fingers. Turn off the oven and open the door slightly, and let the chocolate meringue disc cool completely.

When you're ready to serve, invert on to a big, flat-bottomed plate. Whisk the cream till thick but still soft and pile it on top of the meringue, then scatter over the raspberries. Coarsely grate the chocolate so that you get curls rather than rubble, as you don't want the raspberries' luscious colour and form to be obscured, and sprinkle haphazardly over the top, letting some fall, as it will, on the plate's rim.

Serves 8-10. (Closer to 8)