Australia / Cakes & baking
Pavlova
Pavlova is a light and fluffy meringue dessert named after the ballet dancer Anna Pavlova. Both Wellington, New Zealand and Perth, Australia claims to be the home of the dish. The earliest record of the recipe is a cookbook published in New Zealand in 1933, two years before claims made in Perth. Pavlova is traditionally decorated with fresh fruit and whipped cream, and is especially popular in Australia and New Zealand. Factory-made pavlovas can be purchased at supermarkets in those countries and decorated as desired. Leftover pavlova can be stored in the fridge overnight, but will absorb moisture from the air and lose its crispness. Undecorated pavlova can safely be left overnight in the oven in which it was baked, to be decorated in the morning.
Ingredients
- egg white3
- water3 tbsp
- caster sugar, 9 oz250 g
- salt1 pinch
- vinegar, 1 tsp5 ml
- vanilla extract, 1 tsp5 ml
- corn flour, optional1 tsp
- heavy cream
- powdered sugar, to taste
- fruit and/or berries, cut
Quantities are auto-calculated from the original recipe as a guide. Items without numbers (e.g. “to taste”) are not changed.
Method 5 steps
Whip the egg whites and salt to a very stiff consistency. Add water and beat again before folding in caster sugar, vanilla and vinegar. Whip until the mixture holds its shape and stands in sharp peaks.
Spread the mixture onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Slow-bake the mixture at 150°C (300°F) to dry all the moisture and create the meringue, approximately 45 minutes. This leaves the outside of the pavlova a crisp crunchy shell, while the interior remains soft and moist. Let cool.
Whip the cream and powdered sugar to medium peaks. Spread the whipped cream on top of the meringue.
Arrange the fruit on top of the whipped cream layer. Serve immediately.
