Pavlova cake

Pavlova is a dessert that combines the delicacy of meringue with the freshness of fruits and cream, inspired by the legendary ballerina Anna Pavlova. This elegant dessert is perfect for special occasions or simply to add a touch of refinement to summer evenings. Making Pavlova is not complicated, but it requires a little attention and patience.

To start, make sure you have the necessary ingredients: 4 egg whites, 250 g of sugar, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of cornstarch, 500 ml of heavy cream, a few tablespoons of tart fruit jam (such as raspberry or peach), and a fresh grapefruit. First, it is essential that the egg whites are at room temperature. They should be beaten very carefully. Start by beating them by hand or with a mixer on low speed until they become frothy. Then, add the sugar, teaspoon by teaspoon, ensuring it dissolves completely after each addition.

Once you have a stiff and glossy foam, add the lemon juice and cornstarch, gently folding with a spatula to avoid losing air in the mixture. This is the key to achieving a light and airy meringue. Preheat the oven to 90 degrees Celsius and prepare a baking tray with parchment paper, drawing circles with a pencil. Use spoons to form the meringues on the paper, making sure to leave enough space between them, as they will rise slightly.

Leave the meringues in the oven for about 45 minutes, but keep an eye on them. The goal is to dry them out, not to bake them. If you notice the edges starting to color, slightly open the oven to allow moisture to escape. In the meantime, you can prepare the whipped cream. Whip the cream until it becomes firm, and if desired, add a little sugar or syrup to give it a sweeter taste.

Once the meringues have cooled, you can carefully peel them off the parchment paper. If they stick, lightly moisten the back of the paper to release them. Now comes the fun part: assembling the Pavlova. Take one meringue, add a layer of tart jam, then place another meringue on top. Continue to add whipped cream, and on top, slices of grapefruit and pieces of caramelized sugar. For the caramel, melt the sugar with a little water and honey until it turns golden, then pour it onto a sheet of parchment paper and let it cool.

Pavlova is a versatile dessert, so feel free to experiment with different fruits or flavors. Each serving will be a little work of art, with textures and flavors that complement each other perfectly. Enjoy this refined delicacy, which is sure to impress anyone!