I made meringues!! Successfully, despite many failed attempts, no thanks to the horrendous humidity levels and a very hot oven. This is one dessert that requires a heck of patience and zero humidity if possible.
Well, if you are above and beyond humidity, all the power to you. Can you sense a “jealousy” tone yet?
At every attempt, I tried so many things to curb the humidity levels. Switching on the AC, even on days when its bone chilling out there. The one trick that actually worked for me and my oven was to allow the meringues to sit and air-dry in the oven on the lowest temperature for 2 hours.
Phew! That worked like magic!
With all the fumes and sweating just to get the recipe right, I might have contributed as one of the culprits to cause so much humidity.
All the meringue-baking-disaster asides, this has to be one of our favorite desserts! Sounds exotic and yet such a rustic elegance to pavlovas. The best part is digging into the meringue and scooping up decadent creams and mashed berries macerated with blood orange juice.
Mmmm…
No matter how much effort you put into Valentines’ Day, cherish every memory of togetherness, every single day. Even on days where baking was a total disaster. Turn it around and have fun with your loved ones. Laugh it off and move on.
Or continue testing the recipe again and again until you get it right. What matters is not sweating at small failures, but treasuring the journey 🙂
Makes 6 mini servings
Ingredients:
- 2 large egg whites, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup superfine sugar
- 1/2 tsp orange blossom water
- 1/2 tsp lemon juice/white vinegar
- 2 tsp cornstarch, sifted
Toppings —
- scant 1/2 pint of fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
- 1 blood orange, juiced
- 2 tbsp sugar
- vanilla ice cream/cool whip/whipped cream
- pistachios, chopped
- chocolate hearts
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 225F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment. Set aside.
- In a stand mixer bowl, add egg whites. On medium speed, beat egg whites until soft peaks.
- Switch the speed up to high and add superfine sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time. Beat until sugars completely dissolve and meringue is stiff and glossy. Feel meringue between your fingers to make sure there’s no traces of sugar.
- Add orange blossom water and beat only until incorporated.
- Remove stand mixer bowl. With a spatula, fold in lemon juice with sifted cornstarch.
- Spoon meringue on parchment. Smooth the sides, make cloudy swirls and with the back of spoon, create a small “well” in the center for toppings.
- Bake meringues for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Lower the oven temperature to the lowest setting and leave meringues to dry for 1.5 to 2 hours (if you have humidity issues). Else, switch the oven off and leave the oven ajar to allow meringues to dry until completely cooled.
- In the meantime, make strawberry and blood orange sauce. In a saucepan, combine halved strawberries with sugar and blood orange juice. Heat on medium and stir with a wooden spoon. Cook until the sauce thickens and strawberries soften.This should take about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Refrigerate before serving.
- Serve meringue topped with cream, a generous drizzle of strawberry sauce, chopped pistachios and chocolate.
“Wherever and whenever possible, give your love to everyone and every being and see every day as the Day of Valentine, the Day of Love for all beings!” ― Mehmet Murat ildan.
Have a sweet day and don’t forget to keep it sweet with so much love, every single day 🙂
Tried pavlovas? What’s on your dessert menu today?
Comments on this entry are closed.
Heaven in a plate! Those pavlovas look divine. I love that fruit combo.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Cheers,
Rosa
I don’t like meringues, it’s a little too sweet for my taste bud. And yet, every time I see someone posting a recipe, I get tempted. It tempts me. Yours looking lovely and so vibrant!
Kiran,these look very difficult to make. I am so intimidated by it. I need to muster a lot of coirage to do them.The pictures, again, look amazing.
Shobelyn recently posted..Vegan Juice Recipe- Spinach, Apple and Celery
Lovely treat!!! Stunning pics.. Have a great weekend !
Shema | LifeScoops recently posted..Bacon wrapped Jalapeño Popper with Cream Cheese filling
Beautiful pavlovas, you clearly mastered that meringue! 🙂 Happy Valentine’s Day!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) recently posted..white chocolate cherry cheesecake bars
Your pavlova looks perfect – what a treat! I still get nightmares about my first experience making pavlova back in the culinary school! The biggest lesson to being be patient and keep breathing:)
Medha recently posted..Vegan Dessert – Chocolate Mousse with Sweet Potato
happy valentines day to you..and these look soooo freaking good.
Dixya @ Food, Pleasure, and Health recently posted..Meet the Dietitian : Gina, The Candid RD
I’m happy to know you made it in the end. I have never tried with meringues… gosh I wouldn’t know how to tackle humidity 🙂 I guess I have at least one reason to be happy about the weather condition, so dry and cold…
Daniela @ FoodrecipesHQ recently posted..10 Romantic Chocolate Dessert Ideas
Great job overcoming the meringue challenges!! These pavlovas look heavenly. Things are nice and dry here in San Diego (too dry really), but I have yet to make a pavlova. I need to get on that!
Brandon @ Kitchen Konfidence recently posted..Easy Homemade Hollandaise [video]
That is adorable and I love how you piped the words in chocolate too! 😀 Happy Valentines Day!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella recently posted..5 Minute Cucumber, Mint and Feta Salad
Such a romantic post (all except that humidity part) and these little pavlovas make my heart sing.
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef recently posted..Eggs and Toast Soldiers
Happy valentine’s day! Blood orange are just so gorgeous! These look wonderful – love that you used pistachios for topping!
Ashley recently posted..Quicker Cinnamon Raisin Bread
Your pavlovas look scrumptious!
Angie@Angie’s Recipes recently posted..Emmer Quick Bread with Molasses
wow these are adorable what a special valentines treat
rebecca recently posted..Mount Baldy California
Kiran, such a beautiful recipe suggestion! Thank goodness you had the patience to continue, despite the humidity!
Lizzy (Good Things) recently posted..Postcards and morsels – a short break
Yes! I love a good meringue or Pav as they call them. Humidity is the party pooper of all baking frenzies (except ehen there’s bread involved!) nonetheless, love the ruby blood orange drizzle which is so perfectly valrntine’s!
Alice recently posted..Blogiversaries and Savoury Bread Puddings for a fresh brunch idea.
That truly looks divine!! Each and every shot is sheer perfection Kiran.
easyfoodsmith recently posted..CHANA DAL, MATAR AUR HARA LEHSUN KA PULAO (Spring Garlic, Split Bengal Gram & Pea Pilaf)
Congrats! Making these really is challenging in Florida’s climate. They look wonderful! Thanks for these.
John@Kitchen Riffs recently posted..Celery, Corn, and Bacon Chowder
These are absolute beauties!
I love the shot of the blood orange juice & strawberries, so beautiful…I’ve heard of pavlovas, but never tried them! I’m actually eating jicama & cucumber sticks with lime & chile salt at an airline lounge in mexico city 😉 Hope you had a wonderful Valentine’s Day! 🙂
Kiran – these are gorgeous! I would not have known you struggled with these at all – what a beautiful dessert!
Shashi @ http://runninsrilankan.com recently posted..Strawberry Pancakes with Chocolate Sauce
Umm. I am drooling looking at this,
I love good meringues, but due to the ridiculous humidity can make them not so often. Love the addition of orange blossom water!
I’m in awe, these look so sumptuous. I am obsessing on the color of blood oranges these days, and with the white of the meringue it’s irresistible.
Sue/the view from great island recently posted..Lazy No Bake Thin Mint Cookies
These are so pretty, and I love the flavor of orange blossom water. Perfect Valentine’s dessert!
Natasha @ The Cake Merchant recently posted..Birthday Cakes in a Jar
These look great! So great that I might have to take a extra serving. 😉
These are gorgeous Kiran! I love the orange blossom water and they sound like such a pretty dessert for Valentine’s Day – hope you had a lovely one 🙂
Kelly recently posted..Pineapple Orange Salmon Teriyaki
These look beautiful!! I love when food is pretty! YUM 🙂
Cailee recently posted..Gluten- Free, Dairy- Free Chocolate Treats
My mom used to make meringue all the time when I was growing up but somehow I’m petrified to try it. Your pavlovas came out beautifully, and orange blossom sounds like the perfect flavor!!
They are so pretty and sweet – perfect for Valentines !
Carolyn Chan recently posted..Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork
I follow the same technique in the humidity and let the meringue dry for 2 hours in the oven. Time consuming and it heats up the house more in the heat. My husband complains but I just need to present him the finished meringues and he is a happy “kid”. I bet he will love your pavlovas Kiran!
Helene D’Souza recently posted..Spicy Tomato Sauce Recipe for Pasta and Pizza
How could I have missed this post?!!! I love pavlovas and this one with a delicious strawberry-blood orange sauce looks super scrumptious. I love how you present them for V-day!!!! I hope you had a great V-day! xx
Denise Browning@From Brazil To You recently posted..The 5 Best Eats in Recife and Olinda — #Myhometownguide by Fiji Water