Pavlova

Pavlova for a Christmas party - in seasonal colors

I have had SO many requests for this recipe... so here it is. Pavlova!

This is a spectacular dessert - but not without some contention. It was created to honor the famous Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova. The contention lies between Australia and New Zealand... as to which nation can rightfully claim it's invention. Regardless of the origins, Pavlova has become a staple dish for Australian BBQs or parties. My mother makes a brilliant Pavlova - so quite frankly, I never bothered trying. 

When we were asked to our first American 'Pot Luck', Paul and I both decided we needed to take along a Pavlova. We were surprised when one of the guests stated "Oh! A Pavlova" and encouraged the other guests to try it. Apparently the guest had spend many years in Australia and was very accustomed to the dish. Our first attempt turned out quite well. Subsequent attempts were hit and miss. Once we got a 'real' mixer, our results have been consistently successful.  

Since our first attempt, I have made this dessert for countless parties and pot lucks. It has always been very well received - as it is considered somewhat 'unique'. But... do you think I could find photos? This was a hard task. Apparently I have made many but photographed few. 

My go-to recipe is from the most-excellent-of-all-time-cookbook, The Cooks Companion by Stephanie Alexander. The original recipe can be found here, with a step-by-step video on how to make it here. 

My version is for a slightly larger Pavlova using 6 egg whites. I use this many egg whites as we often have several containers of egg whites in our freezer, all containing three egg-whites left over from Paul making Aioli or Zabaglione. I have increased the ingredients proportionally - but it is still the same recipe/method. I would recommend that first-time Pavlova makers start with the original recipe, until it is perfected. The quantities below will serve around 9 to 12 people. 

PAVLOVA 
Ingredients: 
6 egg whites (6 fl oz)
pinch salt 
375g (13oz) caster sugar* 
3 tsp corn starch 
1 ½ tsp white-wine vinegar 
few drops pure vanilla
1 pint (450 ml) heavy whipping cream (firmly whipped)
fresh fruit to decorate

Method:  
Preheat the Oven to 355℉. Line a Cookie Sheet with Baking / Parchment Paper. On the reverse side, draw a 9" (23cm) circle on the paper (so it shows through). 
Beat egg whites with salt until satiny peaks form. 
Beat in sugar, a third at a time until meringue is stiff and shiny. 
Sprinkle over corn starch, vinegar and vanilla and fold through gently. 
Mound mix onto paper-lined baking tray within circle, flattening top and smoothing sides. 
Place in oven. Immediately reduce heat to 300℉ and bake for 30 minutes. 
Reduce oven temperature to 250℉ and bake for a further 45 minutes. 
Turn off oven and leave Pavlova in cooling oven to cool completely. 

Before serving, carefully invert Pavlova onto a serving platter. Inverting the Pavlova gives the crisp 'crust' to the bottom. Top with whipped cream and decorate with the fruit of your choice. 

Notes: 
Egg whites MUST be at room temperature. 
*I use regular white sugar. I find this has a finer texture in the US than in Australia. If I have time, I will pulse the sugar in my blender for a minute or so to ensure it has a finer texture (although as I am typically making this late at night, after the kids are in bed - I don't always bother!) 
This is a recipe to practice. Every oven has it's own foibles, and this can make a significant difference. 
Beware that the Pavlova is likely to implode when inverting it. Sometimes this is a two-person job! 
Fruits I typically use: strawberries, kiwi, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, slices of orange, fresh mango, can of crushed pineapple (juice drained), banana, can mandarin segments (drained). Sometimes I decorate using concentric rings of different fruits, other times I randomly scatter fruit across the top. The BEST fruit to use is the pulp from passionfruit - simple, tart and the perfect foil for the sweetness of the meringue. Unfortunately, where we live, we find passionfruit next to impossible to find and/or ridiculously expensive. 

Empty that fridge

It is one week until we depart Chicago. It is beginning to sink in at last. WHERE HAS THAT TIME GONE! Now we have to do those mundane but necessary things like empty the refrigerator and work out what we eat/throw/donate... As someone that hates wasting food, I will have to use a little ingenuity.

The first item for tonight's dinner 'hit list' was a white eggplant the boys chose at a recent farmers markets. I think they loved the way it looked (as Master 5 is not a great fan of *eating* eggplant). I also had abundant coriander, basil, tomatoes and fresh mozzarella from last weeks market, some parsley and a pound of frozen ground lamb from Mint Creek Farm.

I decided that the eggplant would be turned into a baba ghanoush. This would also help to finish our tahini, drain a bottle of olive oil and use up a lemon. The coriander and lamb would make great meatballs and I could use the tomato, basil and mozzarella in a simple salad dressed with salt and olive oil. I thought this might look a little lonely on the plate so I opened a tin of garbanzo beans (chick peas) and dressed these with some chopped parsley, olive oil, salt and lemon juice.

BABA GHANOUSH

Ingredients:

Eggplant - medium to large (white is less bitter)

1 clove garlic

salt

1/2 cup finely chopped parsley

juice of half lemon

olive oil

2 tblsp tahini

Method:

Using tongs, turn eggplant in flame on gas stovetop to char surface. If not quite cooked, zap in microwave for a minute (alternatively, rub with olive oil and roast in an oven). Peel the charred skin off then press out bitter juices in a colander. Using a stick mixer, blend with pinch of salt, chopped garlic and tahini. Add lemon juice and olive oil to taste. Stir through parsley. Alternatively just mash all ingredients with a fork if a chunkier consistency is desired.

MIDDLE EASTERN LAMB MEATBALLS

Ingredients:

1 pound (500g) ground lamb

pinch salt

1 onion, finely chopped

2 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp ground allspice

1 cup coarsely chopped coriander (cilantro) leaves

olive oil

Method:

Blend onion, spices and coriander in a food processor. Add lamb and process until smooth. Shape into small balls or wrap around a wooden skewer (soaked in water for 30 mins). Fry in small amount of olive oil until brown and cooked through (or grill or broil kebabs on sticks). Drain on paper towel.

These recipes were adapted from The Cooks Companion by Stephanie Alexander. The absolutely brilliant tome and ONLY cookbook I will ever truly need.

The kids LOVE chick peas (garbanzo beans*) so I always have a tin handy. A great source of protein and fiber, these can quickly be turned into a hummus or simple salad or curry. The kids will eat a whole tin between them if I don't rescue them quickly enough.

This was a very successful meal with Master 3 and Little Miss 11 months eating everything without complaint. Master 5 brought up his aversion to eggplant, but insistence that it was really like 'Hummus' from Master 3, helped persuade him to finish his dinner.

* Master 5 once misheard and thought these were called Rapunzel beans - so we often call them by this name :-)