Chocolate And Pear Meringue Roulade Recipes

TRAY-BAKED MERINGUE WITH PEARS, CREAM, TOASTED HAZELNUTS AND CHOCOLATE SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 300 degrees F and line a baking sheet with a sheet of waxed paper.
• Put your egg whites into a squeaky clean bowl, making sure there are absolutely no little pieces of egg shell or egg yolk in them. Whisk on medium until the whites form firm peaks. With your mixer still running, gradually add the sugar and the pinch of salt. Turn the mixer up to the highest setting and whisk for about 7 or 8 minutes, until the meringue mixture is white and glossy. To test whether it's done you can pinch some between your fingers - if it feels completely smooth it's ready; if it's slightly granular it needs a little more whisking.
• Dot each corner of the waxed paper with a blob of meringue, then turn it over and stick it to the baking sheet. Spoon the meringue out onto the paper. Using the back of a spoon, shape and swirl it into a rectangle. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 1 hour or until crisp on the outside and a little soft and sticky inside. At the same time, bake the hazelnuts on a separate sheet in the oven for 1 hour or until golden brown.
• Drain the cans of pears, reserving the syrup from 1 can. Cut each pear half into 3 slices. Pour the pear syrup into a saucepan with the ginger, if using, and warm gently over a medium heat until it starts to simmer. Take off the heat and snap the chocolate into the saucepan, stirring with a spoon until it's all melted.
• Take the meringue and hazelnuts out of the oven and leave to cool. Place the meringue on a nice rustic board or platter. Whip the cream with the sifted icing sugar and the vanilla seeds until it forms smooth, soft peaks. Smash the toasted hazelnuts (in a kitchen towel) and sprinkle half of them over the top of the meringue. Spoon half the whipped cream over the top and drizzle with some of the chocolate sauce (if the sauce has firmed up, melt it slightly by holding the saucepan over a large pan of boiling water). Divide most of the pear pieces evenly over the top. Pile over the rest of the whipped cream and pears. Drizzle with some more chocolate sauce, then sprinkle over the remaining toasted hazelnuts with some grated orange zest. Serve straightaway. If you're making this in advance, get everything ready and assemble at the last minute.

CHOCOLATE AND PEAR MERINGUE ROULADE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180°C / gas mark 4 and line the tin with baking parchment. Beat the egg whites with an electric hand whisk until stiff peaks form. Continuing to whisk, add the caster sugar, a little at a time. Gently fold in the vinegar, cornflour, vanilla extract, and cocoa powder. Pour the mixture into the tin, smooth the surface, and bake in the centre of the oven for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let it cool.
• Carefully turn the meringue out of the tin onto another piece of baking parchment dusted with icing sugar. Spread the cream over the underside of the roulade with a palette knife. Sprinkle the pears over it. Roll the meringue up around the cream filling. Place seam-side down on a serving plate, cover, and chill. Sift over icing sugar to serve.

PEAR, HAZELNUT AND CHOCOLATE PAVLOVA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 160C/140C Fan/Gas 3. Line a baking tray with baking paper and draw a 15cm/6in circle in the centre and a 30cm/12in circle around the outside to make a ring.
• Place the egg whites into a mixing bowl and whisk with an electric whisk on full speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add the sugar, a teaspoon at a time, still whisking on maximum speed until stiff and glossy. Mix the vinegar and cornflour together in a small bowl until smooth then stir into the egg until combined.
• Spoon the mixture inbetween the lines of the ring. Make a trench in the meringue using the back of a spoon. Place in the oven then immediately reduce the temperature to 140C/120C Fan/Gas 1 and bake for 1-1½ hours or until firm to the touch. Turn the oven off and leave in the oven until cool.
• Melt the chocolate in a bowl set over a pan of simmering water, do not let the water touch the bowl. Stir until melted then keep warm.
• Whip the cream to soft peaks using an electric whisk, stir in the yogurt, vanilla, icing sugar and half the pear pieces. Spoon the cream into the meringue trench, arrange the remaining pears over the top and scatter with hazelnuts. Fill a small piping bag with the melted chocolate and pipe a zigzag pattern over the top. Cut into wedges to serve.

CHOCOLATE ROULADE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Oil the base and sides of a 23 x 32cm baking tray and line with baking parchment. Beat the egg whites, lemon juice and a pinch of salt together using a stand mixer or electric whisk until very stiff. Add 1 tbsp of the sugar and beat to stiff peaks, then add the rest of the sugar, a spoonful at a time, until the mixture is thick and shiny. Sift over the cocoa and cornflour, then gently fold these in with a spatula until completely combined. Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared tin, then bake for 14-15 mins until just crisp to the touch. Leave to cool completely in the tin.
• Meanwhile, make the fillings. For the chocolate filling, tip the chocolate and cream into a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water and stir until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is shiny and smooth. Remove from the heat and leave to cool to room temperature. For the cream filling, whisk the cream and sugar together to stiff peaks using an electric whisk.
• Dust a large sheet of baking parchment with cocoa powder, then carefully flip the meringue onto it. Remove the tin and carefully peel away the parchment. With a short end facing you, score a line across the meringue, 2cm in from the edge. Spread over the chocolate filling followed by the cream, then drizzle with most of the caramel sauce. Sprinkle over the sea salt flakes and drag a palette or cutlery knife through the fillings to gently swirl them. Roll up the roulade into a tight log, starting at the scored end and using the parchment underneath to help you. Lift onto a platter or board. Will keep chilled for up to a day. Drizzle over the remaining caramel sauce, then finely grate over more chocolate to serve.

WHITE FOREST MERINGUE ROULADE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Butter, then line a 23 x 32cm baking tray. Using an electric hand whisk, beat the egg whites, lemon juice and a pinch of salt until stiff.
• Add 1 tbsp of the caster sugar, then whisk until the mixture makes stiff peaks. Repeat with the rest of the sugar, spoon by spoon, until the mix is thick and shiny. Spread into the tin, then bake for 15 mins or until crisp to the touch and lightly golden in places. Leave to cool.
• Simmer the cherries, orange juice, sugar and cloves for 10 mins, or until the cherries are soft but still holding their shape. Mix the cornflour with 2-3 tsp cold water to make a paste, stir into the cherries and cook for a couple mins more until the juices thicken. Leave to cool.
• To assemble, sift icing sugar over a large piece of parchment, then carefully flip the meringue onto it. Remove the tin and parchment. With a short end facing you, score a line 2cm into the meringue.
• Whip the cream, icing sugar and vanilla until thick but not stiff, then spread over the meringue. Spoon over about half of the cherry sauce and scatter with the grated chocolate. Roll up the roulade, starting with the scored short end and using the paper underneath to help. Freeze the roulade for up to a month then defrost overnight. Freeze by setting on a parchment-lined tray then, once firm, wrap the parchment around it and cover with cling film. Freeze the remaining cherry sauce for up to a month.
• To serve, drizzle with the melted white chocolate. Top with a few of the whole cherries and serve the remaining sauce on the side.