Pomegranate pavlova wreath recipe

Name: Pomegranate pavlova wreath recipe
Cook time: 1 h 30 min
Yield: 10
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Ingredients: 200g egg whites (about 5); 250g castor sugar; 2 tsp cornflour (check gluten-free if required); 1 tsp lemon juice or vinegar; 300ml Greek yoghurt; seeds from ½ pomegranate; 120g raspberries; 30g icing sugar, for dusting; 2 tbsp unsalted nibbed pistachios, optional

Rachel Khoo

December 20, 2016

Time:1-2 hoursServes:10

This dessert-meets-decoration is the perfect centrepiece for the that Christmas table. Here in the UK we steer towards the stodgier post-feast puddings but I'd always prefer a lighter, fruitier alternative to Christmas pudding. You could substitute light clouds of chantilly cream for the yoghurt, but I quite like the tangy note yoghurt it adds.

Ingredients

200g egg whites (about 5)
250g castor sugar
2 tsp cornflour (check gluten-free if required)
1 tsp lemon juice or vinegar
300ml Greek yoghurt
seeds from ½ pomegranate
120g raspberries
30g icing sugar, for dusting
2 tbsp unsalted nibbed pistachios, optional

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 100C (80C fan-forced). Place the egg whites in the bowl of a freestanding mixer. Start to whisk using the balloon whisk attachment until the whites are light, frothy and reaching soft peaks. Keep the whisk going and start adding the sugar two tablespoons at a time until fully incorporated. Once it is thick, glossy and you have firm peaks, stir in the cornflour and vinegar.
2. Line a large baking tray with silicone-coated baking paper. Draw a 15-centimetre circle in the centre of the paper as a guide. Using two large serving spoons, scoop quenelles of the meringue into large dollops in a circle each just touching the next, leaving about a 15-diameter space empty in the middle. Repeat the quenelles in a circle all the way around to make a wreath shape until all the meringue quenelles meet. You should make about 10 quenelles.
3. Bake in the middle shelf of the oven for 1 hour 30 minutes, or until the outside and base is nice and crisp enough to move, and the inside is should still be soft and mallowy.
4. If you can, turn off the oven and leave the pavlova to cool inside. Otherwise, carefully transfer to a wire rack to cool.
5. To serve, place the wreath on a large, flat serving plate. Beat the yoghurt and dollop evenly over around the wreath. Scatter the pomegranate seeds and berries over the top and dust with the icing sugar. Add the pistachios, if using, and serve straight away.
Preparation time 30 minutes
Cooking time approx. 1 hour 30 minutes