Meringues with Caramelised Nectarines and Vanilla Bean Cream

Sometimes you find a recipe, and you just know that you won't need to try another ever again. For me, this is the last meringue recipe I'll ever try. I know that sounds really awful, especially for someone who loves being in the kitchen so much, but this gives me perfect results every time - and I thought I'd share it with you too. The secret of its success lies in a few, small changes made to an otherwise standard recipe - and the results are amazing. This meringue recipe can also be used to make a generous pavlova, or even to top a lemon meringue pie.

This is a fantastically versatile recipe, and almost any fruit can be used instead of nectarines - stone fruit will work best, but you could even use orange or citrus fruit segments, and I still think it would taste spectacular. Make this for your next lazy Saturday lunch, and prepare to have everyone swooning at your feet.

 

Perfect Meringues with Vanilla Bean Cream and Caramelised Nectarines
Adapted from Tina Bester Queen of Tarts

Serves 6

Ingredients:

for the meringues
225g caster or granulated sugar
4 egg whites
1 tsp cornflour

for the caramelised nectarines
6 nectarines (or plums, peaches - any other stone fruit)
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp water

for the vanilla cream
250ml cream
1 vanilla pod, seeds scraped out
 

Method:

For the meringues - heat your oven to 150 degrees Celcius (300 degrees Fahrenheit). Place the egg whites and all of the sugar in a heat proof bowl. Heat a saucepan full of water on the stove, and when simmering, place your bowl of egg whites and sugar on top of the saucepan of water - making sure the water doesn't reach the heat proof bowl. Stirring the egg whites constantly, allow them to become just warm, and the sugar to mostly dissolve.

Using an electric beater, beat the egg white and sugar mixture until thick, glossy peaks have formed - this will take about 5 - 7 minutes.

Sprinkle in your teaspoon of cornflour, and beat again for a minute until combined.
Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper, and spoon your meringue mixture into 6 equal mounds. Place in the oven and bake for 90 minutes. Then turn the oven off, and leave the meringues to cool inside the oven.

Cut your choice of fruit in half, and remove the stone in the centre. Place your butter and sugar in a saucepan, and allow to melt and simmer - about 1 minute.
Place your fruit in the saucepan with the tablespoon of water, and allow to caramelise for about 5 minutes - the edges of the fruit should become a dark golden colour, and quite sticky.

To make the vanilla cream, place the cream and vanilla seeds in a bowl, and whisk until soft peaks form - the cream should gently hold its shape, but eventually be able to gently tumble down the side of your meringue mounds

To assemble, place your meringues on a platter, and dollop with the vanilla bean cream, making sure each meringue has a generous dollop on top. Scatter with the caramelised nectarines and the leftover syrup from the pan.