Chocolate Raspberry Pavlova

It's Australia Day here, and you just can't celebrate Australia Day without a pavlova. Ok, so Aussie pavs usually go for the white meringue covered in passionfruit, strawberries and kiwifruit - and very good they are too. But this is a bit of a high-falutin', gourmet version. Sam Kekovich wouldn't be impressed! But I have been throwing nice, juicy lamb chops on the barbie all week, and I did it specially last year, so I hope that makes up for it. Anyway, it's too hot today for lamb (38 degrees....)
I first saw this chocolate pav on an episode of Nigella's Forever Summer with my mum and nonna. All three of us were glued to the screen and I decided I had to make it. It's now become a bit of a staple for me. I bring it along every year for our Easter Sunday brunch, and various other events throughout summer and autumn. Every person should have this recipe up their sleeve; it's dead easy to make but looks very impressive and professional. The chocolate meringue base isn't overly sweet because of the cocoa and dark chocolate it contains, and mixed with the whipped cream and tart raspberries, it really is perfection from few ingredients.
I had never made a meringue before trying this for the first time, and was pretty intimidated. I remember mum saying that she had never been able to do meringue, so I assumed I'd stuff it up. But I just followed the instructions, and it was just fine. Some times have been better than others, when I've ended up with a flat, chewy frisbie, but every time still tastes good. I turn off the fan in our oven when making this, and I don't know if that helps things along or not. But I did it once, so I do it every time now. This time it turned out perfectly, and I was thrilled. I let it cool in the oven overnight and transferred it the next day to a cake stand. And what do you know? The bloody thing cracked! Sheesh! But the good thing about a pav is that it doesn't matter it if all caves in cos you just cover up any disasters with mounds of whipped cream. Hehehe.
Usually I use frozen raspberries, because the fresh ones are so ludicrously expensive, but this time I had a punnet of the fresh sort - it being high summer, of course. Taste-wise I don't find any difference, so don't feel bad going for the frozen.
Do feel bad going for any other fruit, though. This recipe just will not work with anything but raspberries. I'm sorry. I know there are people who don't agree with this, but the tart sourness of raspberries are the perfect foil to the intense, sweet chocolate meringue and fat cream. Chocolate and raspberry are a classic combination anyway. Chocolate and kiwi fruit are not. Strawberries don't quite work cos they don't have the right flavour or texture, but I guess could be used in a pinch. I guess.....
I didn't have enough fresh raspberries for this, but it didin't matter. It didn't look quite so voluptuously generous as in Nigella's photo, plus I forgot to shave dark chocolate curls over the top, but I still think it looks pretty damn tempting!
And the taste is incredible. You bite through the raspberry flavour bombs, to the cloud of whipped cream and onto the crispy meringue shell, to find the gorgeous chocolate gunge waiting for you underneath. So good. And so damn easy to make.
Read on for the recipe:
Chocolate Raspberry Pavlova
From Forever Summer, Nigella Lawson.
Find US measurements here.
You just cannot beat a pav in summer, and in particular this dark beauty. The crisp and chewy chocolate meringue base, rich in cocoa and beaded nuggets of chopped plain chocolate, provides a sombre, almost purple-brown layer beneath the fat whiteness of the cream and matt, glowering crimson raspberries on top: It is a killer combination.
Ingrdients:
for the chocolate meringue base:
6 egg whites
300g caster sugar
3 tablespoons cocoa powder, sieved
1 teaspoon balsamic or red wine vinegar
50g dark chocolate, finely chopped
for the topping:
500ml double cream
500g raspberries
2-3 tablespoons coarsely grated dark chocolate
Preheat the oven to 180C/gas mark 4 and line a baking tray with baking parchment.
Beat the egg whites until satiny peaks form, and then beat in the sugar a spoonful at a time until the meringue is stiff and shiny. Sprinkle over the cocoa and vinegar, and the chopped chocolate. Then gently fold everything until the cocoa is thoroughly mixed in. Mound on to a baking sheet in a fat circle approximately 23cm in diameter, smoothing the sides and top. Place in the oven, then immediately turn the temperature down to 150?C/gas mark 2 and cook for about one to one and a quarter hours. When it's ready it should look crisp around the edges and on the sides and be dry on top, but when you prod the centre you should feel the promise of squidginess beneath your fingers. Turn off the oven and open the door slightly, and let the chocolate meringue disc cool completely.
When you're ready to serve, invert on to a big, flat-bottomed plate. Whisk the cream till thick but still soft and pile it on top of the meringue, then scatter over the raspberries. Coarsely grate the chocolate so that you get curls rather than rubble, as you don't want the raspberries' luscious colour and form to be obscured, and sprinkle haphazardly over the top, letting some fall, as it will, on the plate's rim.
Serves 8-10.
Tagged with chocolate
17 Comments:
Yummo!! I thoroughly enjoy reading your blog and always look forward to the next installment. Happy Australia Day! Michelle
By
Anonymous, at 1/26/2006 04:11:00 pm
Hey Niki,
That pav looks divine! I've always wanted to make it - my dad saw it on Forever Summer once and was mesmerised.
We had a pav too for Australia Day, a different one - Nigella's Summer Meringue Pie from How to Eat (duh!), which I'm just blogging now.
Happy Australia Day!
By
Sarah, at 1/26/2006 06:16:00 pm
I LOVE this pav. I made it for a dinner my bro-in-law was throwing some years back. They didn't have an electric mixer and I had to use one of those really old hand-driven egg beaters! I was not amused...
By
cin, at 1/26/2006 06:59:00 pm
Divine! Love that pav, and it never fails to impress. Have you made Nigella's beautiful honey chocolate cake in Feast? It's a beauty, too.
By
Anonymous, at 1/26/2006 09:35:00 pm
I've still never made a pavlova and I'm under some kind of wacky impression that it's best made in the summer. I'll need to amend that, though, because the photo of this one looks so stunning I simply can't wait another 5 months before I can try it myself.
By
Anonymous, at 1/27/2006 02:19:00 am
"I just want to miniaturize myself and dive into that dessert"
(this is a quote i was told once, i don't take credit for it but today is an occasion to use it.)
By
Sam, at 1/27/2006 03:52:00 am
You know, I wouldn't normally go for soemthing like this. It's the 'fruit with...' issue.
But, 1. it looks fantastic, and b. I LoveLoveLove raspberries...so I'd be willing to make an exception!
By
Stephanie, at 1/27/2006 05:04:00 am
Oh yum. Looks sensational. I had serious cravings for pavlova yesterday. Yet to be requited. Argh!
By
Anonymous, at 1/27/2006 11:13:00 am
Happy Australia Day, Niki!
I am definately pav-challenged, so even a dry shattered one (which yours is not) looks delicious to me. I can't wait for summer and decent berries.
By
Nic, at 1/27/2006 03:05:00 pm
Happy (delayed) Australia day, Niki! Your pavlova looks gorgeous with those yummy raspberries on top..
By
Pille, at 1/27/2006 10:39:00 pm
Michelle - Thanks so much! :-)
Sarah - Your pav practically made me fall off the chair in drooling delight. Wow - I've so gotta make that one! I'm going to make the Strawberry meringue layer cake from Forever Summer for a dinner next weekend - that looks pretty good too.
Cin - Aie aieee! Hand beating is for MASOCHISTS and tv chefs. I salute you!
Anon - I haven't yet tried the chocolate honey cake bcause I'm a little concerned it might be a bit too sweet for my liking. I don't have an overly sweet tooth. Also, I think I should wait until the colder months for something like that. Maybe you could let me know what it's like?
Luisa - Well, I'm kind of with you on the pavs in summer thing. It doesn't really feel right having a pav in winter, but, hey, if you can't wait, go for it!!!
Sam - I'm with you, I'm with you. I totally agree!
Stephanie - I think this really needs the fruit to cut through the richness, and if you love raspberries, well, you're set!
AG - Hope the cravings subside soon :-)
Nic - I'm still not totally happy with my pavs, but they're getting better. I think it really comes down to a good oven (in my opinion). But godammn they're fragile. I was cursing like a sailor when I picked mine up so gently and it broke in 3 bits.
Pille - Thank you, and thank you :-)
By
Niki, at 1/27/2006 11:21:00 pm
Pavs rule! My ex mum-in-law made the bestest pavs in the world and I always head for the pavs when I see them on the dessert table. The 1st time I saw Nigella Lawson make this on telly I was glued to the goggle-box. I was glued to my screen reading this post too. And salivating! Yummers!
Happy belated ANZAC Day too!
By
Stephanie, at 1/29/2006 03:06:00 am
MM - hehe. Not quite ANZAC day yet. That one's in April. This week was the holiday also known as "Invasion Day". :-)
Pavs are excellent, and always the first thing to disappear at functions. They're so simple but there's just something about them that appeals. Even my Italian nonna says they're her favourite. COnsidering she's diabetic, and should keep well away from them, I still saved her a slice. :-)
By
Niki, at 1/29/2006 11:19:00 pm
What a delicious looking pavlova. Hmm...wondering if I can make this using the pavlova mix you gave me. ;)
By
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