Soft Swiss Meringue with Berries and Almond Anglaise
Ingredients
"Instead of slicing the meringue, you can serve this marvellous dinner party dessert in the middle of the table for guests to help themselves to, with the raspberry coulis and almond anglaise in separate jugs for a theatrical drizzle." ~ Luke Mangan.
Raspberry Coulis:
65 ml (2 fl oz) plain Sugar syrup*
300 g (10 1/2 fl oz) raspberry purée (you can use store-bought or make your own)*
Meringue:
4 free-range egg whites
220 g (7 3/4 oz/1 cup) caster (superfine) sugar, plus extra for dusting
Raspberry Filling:
400 ml (14 fl oz) thick (double) cream
100 g (3 1/2 oz) raspberries, crushed
Almond Anglaise:
250 ml (9 fl oz/1 cup) milk
250 ml (9 fl oz/1 cup) pouring (single) cream
75 g (2 1/2 oz/ 1/3 cup) caster (superfine) sugar
4 free-range egg yolks
Frangelico or almond liqueur, to taste
To Garnish:
150 g (5 1/2 oz) strawberries, halved
150 g (5 1/2 oz) blackberries
150 g (5 1/2 oz) raspberries
70 g (2 1/2 oz) flaked almonds, toasted
Icing (confectioners’) sugar, for dusting
*Sugar Syrup (makes 400 ml):
250 g (9 oz) caster (superfine) sugar
* Raspberry Puree:
150 g (5 1/2 oz) frozen raspberries
40 g (1 1/2 oz) caster (superfine) sugar
2 tsp lemon juice
1/3 tsp finely grated lemon zest
Method
Sugar Syrup:
Put the sugar in a saucepan with 250 ml (9fl oz/1 cup) water. Place over medium heat and bring to the boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Remove from the heat and leave to cool. Store in a clean airtight jar in the fridge.
Raspberry Puree:
Place all the ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Remove from the heat to cool for 10 minutes.
Place in a food processor and blend until smooth. Strain through a fine sieve, pressing down with a spoon to push the fruit and juices through. Discard the raspberry seeds.
Transfer the purée to an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to serve. The purée will keep for several days.
Raspberry Coulis:
Place the sugar syrup and raspberry purée in a saucepan over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Remove from the heat and cool in the fridge.
Meringue:
Preheat the oven to 180C (350F). Line a 23 x 33 cm (9 x 13 inch) Swiss roll (jelly roll) tin with baking paper.
Place the egg whites in a clean mixer bowl and whisk with electric beaters until medium peaks form. Gradually add the sugar, a tablespoon at a time, whisking until very stiff and glossy.
Spoon the mixture into the lined roll tin and smooth the surface. Bake for 8 minutes, or until golden brown.
Reduce the oven temperature to 160C (315F) and bake for a further 15 minutes, or until the meringue is crispy.
Sprinkle a sheet of baking paper with extra caster sugar. Turn the meringue out onto the baking paper, and peel off the baking paper from the base of the meringue. Leave to cool.
Raspberry Filling:
Place the cream and raspberries in a bowl and lightly mix together.
Almond Anglaise:
Place the milk, cream and half the sugar in a saucepan and bring to boiling point.
In a metal bowl, mix the egg yolks and remaining sugar. Whisk in half the milk mixture, then add the remaining liquid and whisk until well combined.
Pour into a clean saucepan and heat gently, stirring constantly until the mixture reaches 84C (183F) and coats the back of a spoon, taking care not to overcook the custard or the egg will scramble. Set aside to cool, then add the almond liqueur to taste.
To Serve:
Spread the raspberry filling evenly over the meringue. Top with three-quarters of the strawberries, blackberries and raspberries. Starting at the long end, roll up the meringue, using the baking paper to help you.
Cut into slices and place in serving bowls. Drizzle with the raspberry coulis. Top with the remaining fresh berries and scatter the flaked almonds over. Dust with icing sugar and serve the almond anglaise alongside.
Credits: Images and recipes from Sharing Plates by Luke Mangan, Murdoch Books, RRP $39.99 with Photography by Nikki To
Photo Credits: Images and recipes from Sharing Plates by Luke Mangan, Murdoch Books, RRP $39.99 with Photography by Nikki To
