Lemon diplomat

Title: Lemon Diplomat - a refined and fresh dessert

Preparation time: 30 minutes
Baking time: 30 minutes
Total time: 1 hour
Number of servings: 8

Description:
Lemon Diplomate is a light, elegant and fresh dessert, ideal for warm days or as the perfect end to a festive dinner. This recipe combines fluffy pastry with a smooth lemon cream, providing a delicious contrast of textures and flavors. Whether you're an experienced cook or a cooking enthusiast, this simple and quick recipe is sure to impress!

Ingredients:

For the batter:
- 4 egg whites
- 200 g sugar
- 4 yolks
- 120 g flour
- 1 sachet baking powder (10 g)
- 1 vanilla essence

For the cream
- 500 ml whipping cream
- 250 g cottage cheese
- 150 g sugar
- 2 lemons (juice and grated zest)
- 1 sachet gelatine (10 g) dissolved in water

Directions:

Step 1: Prepare the pastry
Start by preheating the oven to 180°C. Prepare a baking tray (about 24x24 cm) and line with baking paper or grease with butter. In a large bowl, beat the egg whites with an electric mixer until stiff. Gradually add the sugar, continuing to mix until you have a glossy, stiff meringue. This step is essential for a fluffy batter, so take your time!

Once you have the meringue, add the egg yolks, one at a time, mixing gently with a spatula. Stir in the flour mixed with the baking powder and vanilla essence, stirring gently to keep the air in the mixture. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and level the surface with a spatula.

Step 2: Baking the pastry
Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown and the pastry passes the toothpick test. Once done, allow to cool completely in the pan.

Step 3: Make the cream
In a large bowl, beat the whipping cream until stiff. In another bowl, mix the cream cheese with the sugar, lemon juice and grated lemon zest. Add the dissolved gelatine (make sure it's well mixed) and gently fold in the whipped cream, stirring gently to keep aerated.

Step 4: Assemble the diplomat
Once the pastry has cooled completely, cut into cubes or squares. Place a layer of the shortbread on the bottom of a serving dish and pour the lemon cream over it. Continue with another layer of the tops and top with the remaining cream. Level the surface well and refrigerate the dessert for at least 2 hours or until the custard has set.

Serving suggestion:
Serve the chilled lemon diplomat garnished with lemon slices and a few fresh mint leaves for an elegant look. You can also add a few raspberries or berries for added flavor and color.

Possible variations:
If you want to experiment, you can replace the lemon with orange or lime for a different flavor. You can also add some ground walnuts to the cream for a crunchy texture.

Helpful tips:
- Make sure all the ingredients are at room temperature to get a smooth mixture.
- Use a good quality mixer to get a well whipped whipped cream and perfect meringue.
- Gelatin is essential to get a firm cream, so don't skip it.

This lemon diplomat with its fluffy countertop and smooth cream is sure to become a favorite with your family and friends. Make it with love and enjoy every bite!