Citrus Pavlova Recipes

Steps:

• For the orange curd: In a medium saucepot, whisk the egg yolks and granulated sugar together until pale yellow and slightly thickened and the whisk leaves lines behind it. Next, whisk in the orange juice and zest. Set the pot over medium heat and cook, stirring constantly with a rubber spatula, just until the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon and holds its shape when you drag your finger through it, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the butter until completely combined. Pour the curd into a bowl and let cool to room temperature. If any of the curd got slightly overcooked, put it through a fine-mesh strainer to remove any set egg yolk.
• Cover the curd with plastic wrap pressed directly to the surface and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. (The curd will hold well for up to 4 days.)
• For the meringue: Position a rack in the middle of the oven; preheat to 300 degrees F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with a silicone baking mat.
• Stir together the cornstarch and lemon juice in a small bowl until the cornstarch completely dissolves. Set aside.
• Place the egg whites and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Whip on medium-high speed until the egg whites are frothy. With the machine running, slowly stream in the granulated sugar. Increase the speed to high and whip the egg whites until you see ribbons left in the meringue by the whip attachment. Pour in the cornstarch mixture and whip a few seconds more, until stiff peaks form and the meringue becomes very glossy.
• Mound the meringue in the middle of the baking mat and spread it into a 10-inch round using a small offset spatula -- the shape needn't be perfect, but make sure to spread the meringue in an even layer.
• Bake for 10 minutes, then drop the oven temperature down to 200 degrees F. Bake for an additional 45 to 50 minutes. The meringue is done when the top is set and not tacky to the touch, and when a small offset spatula can be slid underneath and come out clean or with very little meringue attached. Turn off the oven, crack the door, and let the meringue sit for an additional 30 minutes.
• Remove the meringue from the oven; run a large offset spatula around the circumference to release it from the baking mat. Set a serving platter beside the baking sheet and gently slide the meringue onto the platter. Let sit at room temperature until ready to assemble.
• For the vanilla whipped cream: Combine the cream, confectioners' sugar and vanilla paste in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whip attachment. Beat on high speed until soft peaks form. Refrigerate for up to 30 minutes before serving.
• To assemble: Spoon the curd into the center of the meringue and spread it in an even layer, leaving a 1-inch border. Spread the whipped cream over the curd. Top decoratively with the clementine and grapefruit wheels. Garnish the entire pavlova with the lime zest and serve immediately.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C (350 degrees F)/gas mark 4 and line a baking tray with baking parchment.
• Beat the egg whites until satiny peaks form, then beat in the sugar a spoonful at a time until the meringue is stiff and shiny.
• Sprinkle the cornflour (cornstarch) over the meringue, then grate in the zest--a fine microplane is best for this--of 1 lemon and add 2 teaspoons of lemon juice.
• Gently fold until everything is thoroughly mixed. Mound onto the lined baking tray in a fat circle approximately 23 centimeters (10 inches) in diameter, smoothing the sides and the top with a knife or spatula.
• Place in the oven, then immediately turn the temperature down to 150 degrees C(300 degrees F) /gas mark 2, and cook for 1 hour.
• Remove from the oven and leave to cool, but don't leave it anywhere cold as this will make it crack too quickly. If you think your kitchen is too cool, then leave the pavlova inside the oven with the door completely open. When you're ready to eat, turn the pavlova onto a large flat plate or board with the underside uppermost--I do this before I sit down to the meal in question and let it stand till pudding time. This is so the tender marshmallow belly of the pav melds with the soft topping.
• Toast the flaked almonds, by frying them in a dry pan over a medium to high heat until they have started to colour. Shake the pan at regular intervals and don't let them burn. This doesn't take more than a minute or so. When they're done, remove to a cold plate so that they don't carry on cooking.
• Whip the cream until thick and airy but still with a soft voluptuousness about it, and set it aside for a mo.
• Put the lemon curd into a bowl and beat it with a wooden spoon or spatula to loosen it a little. Taste the lemon curd (if it's shop-bought) and add some lemon zest and a spritz of juice if it's too sweet.
• With a light hand, a glad heart and a spatula, spread the lemon curd on top of the meringue base. Now top with the whipped cream, peaking it rather as if it were a meringue topping. Sprinkle with the zest of the remaining lemon--you can grate this finely or coarsely as you wish--followed by the flaked almonds, and serve triumphantly.