Manger with Mimi :: Pomegranate Meringues

I just love pomegranate season. The beautiful colours of this sweet and tangy fruit make me feel so festive. That’s why I love to dress the little ruby seeds with a big crimson red swirled meringue. Pomegranate goes so well with orange blossom water, so I teamed these two ingredients to make a delicious syrup. Served with whipped cream and pomegranate seeds, this dessert, to quote my daughter, is the ultimate princess treat.

Pomegranate Meringues

*makes about 5-6 meringues

Ingredients:

For the meringues

• 6 extra-large egg whites, at room temperature
• 1 + 1/2 tsp cornflour
• 1 or 1/2 tsp red food colouring (depending on colour strength desired)
• A pinch of fine salt
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 pomegranates, seeds only
• 1 1/2 cups whipping cream

 Pomegranate and orange blossom water syrup

• Juice of 3 fresh pomegranates
• 1 1/2 tbsp orange blossom water
• 5 tbsp sugar

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 140° C. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
2. In a large glass bowl, whisk the egg whites (I use a pair of electric whisks) and salt on a high-speed until frothy – try to keep the whisk position as horizontal as possible. Add the cornflour and sugar (1-2 tbsp at a time) gradually and continue whisking. You should add the sugar in small quantities until the end of the process.
3. When the egg whites form stiff peaks (this usually takes about 10-15 minutes), gently fold in the red food colouring, creating swirls. With the help of two large slotted spoons, spoon the egg whites onto the parchment-lined baking tray. The meringues should be about 10-12 cm large and 6 cm high. ‘Twirl’ your spoon around and finish off with a spiky peak.
4. Bake for about 1 hour. Switch off the oven, and leave them to cool inside the oven with the door slightly open for 15 minutes.
5. For the syrup, squeeze the juice of the 3 pomegranates. Heat in a saucepan, add orange blossom water and sugar. Bring to a boil, turn down the heat and simmer until thick and glossy. Leave to cool and set aside.
6. Serve meringues with whipped cream, a handful of pomegranate seeds on top and drizzle with the pomegranate and orange blossom water syrup.

*photos by Oddur Thorisson