Recipe of the week: Ultimate meringues
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Meringues are definitely a crowd-pleaser. They sound complicated but are made from just two ingredients. Follow the recipe and once you have mastered them you will have a great dish that would be ideal at Christmas if you want a lighter dessert.
Ingredients
3 egg whites (you can freeze the yolks to use in another recipe later)
175g caster sugar
Method
Preheat the oven to 150C. Line a baking sheet with greaseproof paper.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk the egg whites on a low setting with an electric whisk for a couple of minutes until they are bubbly.
Turn the whisk up to medium and continue to mix for a minute, then turn up to high and whisk until they form stiff peaks. To test them, simply lift the beaters out of the mixing bowl (turn them off first!) and check to see if the mixture flops or not. It should hold its shape without drooping at the end.
Once you’ve reached the stiff peak stage, start to add the caster sugar a tablespoon at a time, whisking continuously on high. The mixture will start to thicken. Continue until all the sugar is combined and the mixture is stiff with a glossy texture.
Spoon out the mixture onto the pre-lined baking sheet in individually-sized portions, about a heaped tablespoon each. Depending on the size of your tray, you might have to bake the meringues in two batches.
If you find the paper slipping, use a little dab of the meringue mixture under each corner to help it stick to the baking tray.
Put the meringues in the pre-heated oven, and immediately turn the heat down to 140C. Bake for around 30 to 40 minutes, or until the meringues are just starting to colour on top. Every oven is different, so it’s best to keep a close eye on them to prevent burning.
Turn off the oven and leave them in there to cool for about 10 to 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
Top with cream and fruit, crumble over ice cream, or drizzle with melted chocolate – the possibilities are endless!
