Chewy Meringue Recipe Nigella Lawson

NIGELLA LAWSON'S CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY PAVLOVA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan160°C/gas 4 and line a baking tray with baking paper. Beat the egg whites until satiny peaks form, then beat in the sugar, a large spoonful at a time, until the meringue is stiff and shiny. Add the cocoa, vinegar and chopped chocolate, then gently fold until the cocoa is thoroughly mixed in. Mound onto a lined baking sheet in a fat circle about 25cm in diameter, smoothing the sides and top. Place in the oven, then immediately reduce the temperature to 150°C/fan130°C/gas 2 and cook for 1-1¼ hours.
• When the meringue is ready it should look crisp around the edges and sides, and be dry on top, but when you prod the centre you should feel the promise of squidginess. Turn off the oven and open the door slightly, then let the chocolate meringue disc cool completely.
• When you're ready to serve, lift onto a large, flat-bottomed plate. Whisk the cream until thick but still soft, pile it on top of the meringue, then scatter over the raspberries. Sprinkle the fruit haphazardly over the top, letting some fall, as they will, on the plate's rim. Sprinkle over the grated chocolate to serve.

CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY PAVLOVA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C Fan/gas mark 4/350ºF and line a baking tray with baking parchment. 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 23cm / 9 inches in diameter, smoothing the sides and top. Place in the oven, then immediately turn the temperature down to 150°C/130°C Fan/gas mark 2/300ºF 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.

STRAWBERRY PAVLOVA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 160°C/Fan 140°C/gas 3. Lay a sheet of non-stick baking parchment on a baking sheet and mark a 23cm (9in) circle on it. Put the egg whites into a large bowl and whisk until stiff and cloud-like. Add the sugar a teaspoonful at a time, whisking well after each addition, until all the sugar has been added. Blend the cornflour and vinegar together and whisk into the meringue mixture. Spread the meringue out to cover the circle on the non-stick baking parchment, building up the sides so they are higher than the middle. Place in the oven but immediately reduce the temperature to 150°C/300°F/gas 2. Bake for about 1 hour until firm to the touch and a pale beige colour. Turn the oven off and allow the Pavlova to become quite cold while still in the oven. If you keep the oven door closed you will encourage a more marshmallowy meringue. Remove the cold Pavlova from the baking sheet and parchment and slide onto a serving plate. Top with the whipped cream and strawberries, then chill in the fridge for 1 hour before serving.