Cooked meringue is a favorite the entire world over. Whether its a soft topping to a lemon meringue pie, or a harder variation found in a pavlova the meringue is a sure fire favorite whether you are hosting a kids birthday party or a high class supper.The basic meringue is made by whisking egg whites and adding icing or caster sugar. How the sugar is added, and at what temperature the meringue is baked decides the type of meringue created.critical for all meringues.Make sure the mixing bowl and beaters are clean and have no grease, butter or egg yolk on them as this will prevent the egg whites from whisking thoroughly.Whisking egg whites by hand is a wearisome task. Ideally you will use a stand mixer with a whisking wire attachment. My weapon of choice is my trusty Kitchenaid KSM150, however, if you do not have access to a stand mixer, then a hand held electric mixer will do just fine.Choose a large bowl, as the egg whites when whisked will inflate significantly. Once whisked to perfection, the egg whites will peak and remain in place in the bowl. A favorite party trick of most would-be chefs is to prove their whisking prowess by holding the upturned bowl above their head, which if they have done the job properly means the egg white remains in the bowl.For the perfect meringue you will need:4 large egg whites250g (8 oz) icing sugar 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract Sift the icing sugar to remove any lumps using a fine sieve.Set aside, along with the vanilla extract. If you can get vanilla extract this is preferable as it is natural and the real deal, otherwise vanilla essence will do.Place the egg whites and sugar in your bowl and whisk little by little until the egg whites and sugar combine. Gradually increase the whisking speed until the mixture is glossy and will form stiff peaks which may take five to eight minutes.Add the vanilla extract & whisk it in until it's fully mixed.Spoon or pipe the meringue mixture onto a baking tray lined in greaseproof baking paper and bake in a low oven at around 130C (270F).For small meringue shapes this will take around 45 minutes. For larger baskets, this could take as long as 2 hours.To make soft meringue topping for lemon meringue pies for instance, boost the oven temperature to 180C (360F) which will result in soft moist meringue with a golden brown crust.
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Cooked meringue is a favorite the entire world over. Whether its a soft topping to a lemon meringue pie, or a harder variation found in a pavlova the meringue is a sure fire favorite whether you are hosting a children's birthday party or a high class dinner party.
John Morgan the Kitchenware Guru showcases "best in class" kitchenware and appliances, such as the KSM150
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