Individual Rhubarb Ripple Pavlovas Recipes

INDIVIDUAL RHUBARB RIPPLE PAVLOVAS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 140C/120C fan/gas 1. Line two large baking sheets with non-stick baking parchment. Draw eight circles, 6-8cm in diameter, on the parchment, then flip over. In a large bowl, whisk the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Gradually whisk in the sugar until thick and glossy, then the cornflour. Pile the meringue in soft swirls onto the marked circles on the baking parchment, then bake on the lowest shelf for 1 hr until crisp on the outside and dry underneath. Cool, then gently peel off the paper. Can be made up to a day in advance, just store in airtight containers.
• Place the rhubarb batons in a large pan along with the sugar, vanilla and about 200ml water. Bring to a gentle simmer, then cook very gently until just soft. Discard the vanilla. Remove the rhubarb from the pan, reserving the cooking liquid. Purée half of the fruit with a hand blender or liquidiser, then strain into a bowl through a fine mesh sieve.
• Reduce the rhubarb cooking liquid until thick and syrupy. Leave the rhubarb and syrup to cool. Can be made up to two days ahead and chilled until needed.
• To serve, whip the cream until it just forms peaks. Carefully ripple the rhubarb purée through the cream. Plate each meringue and spoon on some of the rhubarb rippled cream. Top with the remaining batons and spoon some of the rhubarb syrup on top and around the plate.

RHUBARB RASPBERRY PAVLOVA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Invert a 9-inch metal bowl on a work surface. Cut an 18-inch-square sheet of aluminum foil, and place over bowl, shiny side out. Using the plastic handle of a vegetable peeler or rubber spatula, smooth the foil against the bowl, eliminating any creases; set bowl aside. Fill a medium saucepan 1/4 full with water. Set the saucepan over medium heat, and bring water to a simmer.
• Combine egg whites, 1/2 cup sugar, and cream of tartar in the bowl of an electric mixer. Holding the bowl over the simmering water, whisk constantly until sugar has dissolved and whites are warm to the touch, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Transfer bowl to mixer. Start beating on low speed; gradually increase speed to high until stiff, glossy peaks form, about 10 minutes. Add vanilla extract; mix until combined.
• Spoon the meringue over the foil on the inverted bowl. Using an offset spatula or a large spoon, gently spread the meringue to make a shell that is 1/2 to 1 inch thick and 2 inches deep. Without going over the rim of the bowl, make decorative swirls around the rim. Coat what will be the base of shell evenly so that it is flat; avoid making thin spots.
• Place bowl, still inverted, on a baking sheet. Transfer to oven, and bake 25 minutes. Watch carefully; if the shell begins to brown, open oven door and lower temperature to 175 degrees. Bake 2 hours more at 175 degrees. Turn off heat, and leave the bowl in the oven 12 hours or overnight to dry completely.
• In a large bowl, prepare an ice bath. Combine 1 cup water, remaining 3/4 cup sugar, and kirsch, if using, in a small saucepan; bring to a boil. Add rhubarb chunks. Reduce heat to medium low; simmer until rhubarb is tender, about 6 minutes. Remove from heat. Transfer rhubarb to an empty bowl set over an ice bath; let cool completely. Chill until ready to use.
• To assemble the dessert, place the bowl of an electric mixer and the whisk attachment in the freezer to chill, and have ice bath ready. Drain rhubarb through a strainer set over a bowl, reserving both the syrup and the rhubarb. Transfer syrup to a small saucepan. Set saucepan over medium heat; reduce by half or until syrup coats the back of a wooden spoon, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer syrup to a bowl set over the ice bath; let cool completely.
• Pour heavy cream into the chilled mixer bowl. Split vanilla bean lengthwise. Scrape out the seeds, and add to cream. Discard the pod. Beat on high speed until stiff peaks form.
• Unwrap aluminum-foil edges from bowl, and slide bowl out of meringue shell. Turn shell right side up. Gently pull foil away from meringue, starting at rim and working toward the bottom, until shell is free.
• Place meringue shell on a cake stand or plate. Spoon whipped cream into shell. If shell breaks, press it back together. Spoon rhubarb chunks over whipped cream, and garnish with raspberries. Serve any remaining rhubarb syrup on the side. Dust with confectioners' sugar. Using a pie server or spoon, serve immediately.