Elevate your Plate

Backstory:

It was a glorious day in July. After being swamped with uni work, I wanted to do something different and make something for a change. But the warm weather meant that I was looking for something tasty but not too heavy. On first thought, a mousse or posset came to mind, but I wanted to make something more challenging. Baked Alaska was my next thought, but with it containing ice-cream and the looming heat being ever present, I knew that this was not a good option. So I trawled the internet in search for other meringue recipes. You may be thinking, couldn’t you have made an Eton mess, well with lemons to spare, waste not want not. Eventually I came across this gem of a recipe (link below) and I’m so glad I did, as it didn’t disappoint! What’s not to like, lemon, cream, fruit, meringue, all winning combo’s and I guarantee that multiple people will be going back for seconds! Many have enjoyed this dish, just consult the quotes below.

Recipes:

Pavlova: https://www.recipetineats.com/pavlova-recipe/

Lemon curd: https://scientificallysweet.com/easy-lemon-curd-recipe/

Tips and Tricks:

• Make the lemon curd first and store it in the fridge for later use.
• I highly recommend leaving the meringue to cool in an oven overnight.
• The fruit topping doesn’t have to be fresh fruit, frozen berries was used in the above images and still worked well.
• Take your time arranging the fruit design to maximise your dish aesthetics.

Recommendation and rating:

With summer just beyond the horizon, you’d be foolish to not give this recipe a try. Perfect for a BBQ or if you need something to impress at a picnic, it’s one of my go-to’s for a light dessert. Components can be made in advance and it creates such a fabulous dish! The meringue is aery and fluffy and compliments the tangy lemon curd nicely. The whipped cream provides a medium for the fruit to embellish, and the berries give the dish texture and leave you with lasting freshness after each bite. This recipe is one for the books and a must for the warm days ahead! I cannot give it less than 5 stars!

“Consistency of the lemon curd was perfect!”

“Creative fruit design makes the dish stand out”!

“Such a light dessert, I just want another slice!”