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Strawberry Pavlova

17/11/2023

Strawberry Pavlova is an elegant and refined dessert of either Australian or New Zealand origin - the exact provenance is still debated - named in homage to the famous Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova. The Pavlova is essentially a meringue that’s crispy on the outside and soft inside, usually accompanied by whipped cream and fresh fruit. Here’s the recipe enriched with an Italian touch, which could be the addition of grated lemon zest to scent the cream.

Ingredients

  • 4 egg whites
  • 220 g of caster sugar
  • 1 teaspoon of white vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon of cornstarch
  • 250 ml of fresh cream for whipping
  • 30 g of powdered sugar
  • 250 g of fresh strawberries
  • Grated lemon zest (optional)

Preparation

  1. Preheat the oven to 120 °C and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Beat the egg whites until stiff, then gradually add the caster sugar, continuing to whip until you have a glossy and firm meringue.
  3. Gently fold in vinegar, vanilla, and cornstarch into the meringue, incorporating them with slow, gentle movements to avoid deflating it.
  4. Place the meringue on the parchment paper forming a circle about 20 cm in diameter, creating a slightly higher border in the center where you will later place the cream and strawberries.
  5. Bake the meringue for approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes or until it is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Turn off the oven and let the meringue cool inside with the door slightly open to avoid temperature shocks that could cause cracking.
  6. Whip the cream with powdered sugar until it forms a fluffy and firm consistency. If you like, add some grated lemon zest for an aromatic touch.
  7. Wash and slice the strawberries in halves or slices.
  8. Once the meringue has cooled, arrange the whipped cream and fresh strawberries on top.
  9. Serve the Pavlova immediately to enjoy the contrast between the crispy meringue and the soft cream.

Curiosity

Despite its simplicity, Pavlova is a dessert that allows for many variations, for example by adding other types of fruit such as kiwi, passion fruit or berries, or by flavoring with citrus zest or different flavors in the meringue or cream. Furthermore, Pavlova is often decorated with swirls of cream and fruit in a dramatic way for a stunning visual impact.