Brown Sugar Meringues With Red Wine Plums Recipes

Steps:

• Heat oven to 140C/fan 120C/gas 1. Line a large baking sheet with baking paper. Blend together the cornflour, vinegar and vanilla to make a paste. Whisk the egg whites until they are stiff and glossy, then whisk in the sugar in three goes, adding a little paste and whisking back to firm peaks each time. Keep whisking until the meringue is thick and heavy.
• Spoon six meringue heaps onto the baking sheet, spaced apart, then shape into nests by making dips in the centres with the back of a spoon. Bake for 1 hr, then turn off the oven and leave to cool in the oven for a further hr.
• Put the wine, sugar and cinnamon stick in a medium pan and bring to the boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Add the plums, then poach gently for 4-5 mins until just tender. Remove the plums with a slotted spoon, peel off the skins, then set aside.
• Increase the heat under the sauce and boil hard until reduced to a thick syrup, about 5 mins. Pour into a jug; leave to cool.
• To serve, set the meringue nests on serving plates and spoon the crème fraîche into the centres. Place three plum halves on each and drizzle over the sauce. Serve without delay.

Steps:

• Using a small knife, remove the pits from plums without cutting plums entirely in half. Place plums in a medium heatproof bowl. Bring stock syrup and bay leaves to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Immediately pour syrup over plums and let cool completely.
• Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Line a baking sheet with a nonstick baking mat or parchment paper; set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites until soft peaks form. With the mixer on low, slowly add superfine sugar; increase speed and continue whisking until firm peaks form. Add confectioners' sugar and beat until meringue is smooth and shiny and stiff peaks form, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Drain plums and pat dry with paper towels, removing as much syrup as possible. Gently fold plums into meringue mixture.
• Using two large spoons, scoop one-quarter of the meringue mixture and pass it between both spoons to form a rounded oval shape; transfer to prepared baking sheet. Repeat process with remaining meringue. Transfer to oven and bake for 2 hours.
• Cool meringues slightly on baking sheet; carefully transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely in a dry place before serving.