Spring Pavlova – crisp outside, marshmallowy inside!

Hello dear reader,

I was reading a food magazine last night and there was an article on great British desserts.  There were the obvious contenders of crumbles, puddings, scones, fools and trifles but also listed was Pavlova.

I knew that Pavlova had been named for the wonderful Russian classical ballerina Anna Pavlova.

Photo sourced from orpheusword.wordpress.com
Photo sourced from orpheusword.wordpress.com

I believed it originated in Australia and I can certainly remember the lovely John Torode once exclaiming on a cookery show “you’re making Pavlova for an Australian – it’d better be good”!

photo sourced from johntorode.com
photo sourced from johntorode.com

A bit of further research has told me that it might actually have been first created in New Zealand and that there is much debate between the two countries as to which it “belongs to”.

So, I was correct in thinking it originated from the other side of the world.  It amused me to see it being listed as one of our great British desserts.  However that is one of the joyful things about British cuisine, that we love to embrace cuisines of other countries, so much so that some dishes come to be thought of as “our own”.  Certainly I was brought up having Pavlova as a regular dessert.  As soon as strawberries were in season, the first thought was Pavlova.  My mum’s recipe is famed for how crispy the outside is and how soft and marshmallowy the inside.  I don’t know how it equates to the original or traditional recipe but I’ve certainly never tasted a finer Pavlova.

So mum’s recipe is…

Preheat oven to moderate temperature (180 degrees C, 350 degrees F, gas mark 4). Grease a baking tin, add greaseproof paper, grease it & then wet it & shake off the excess water. Beat 3 egg whites until really stiff. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla essence, 1 teaspoon cornflour and 1 small teaspoon white vinegar. Continue beating and add 6oz caster sugar, one spoonful at a time. Spoon onto the baking sheet and smooth into a circle with a flattish top. Put in oven, immediately turn the temperature down to almost cool (150 degrees C, 300 degrees F, gas mark 2) & bake for an hour. Then switch the oven off & allow to cool in the oven.

At this stage it can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week. At least one hour before serving, top with whipped cream, not quite to the edge.  This helps the inside to become more soft and mallowy and the outside to stay crisp. Decorate as desired.

As I said, we usually have pavlova as soon as strawberries are in season but I couldn’t wait this year and decided to make it for my husband for our wedding anniversary a couple of weeks ago.  I wanted to make it look pretty and spring-like, so used my crystallised primroses to decorate it.  Here it is…

pavalova1

My husband is the artistic one in the family and he said it needed another circle of flowers around the outside, so here it is again…

pavalova2

My husband thought it looked much better but I’m a less-is-more sort of girl, so I actually prefer the first version.  What do you think?

Since edible flowers are classed as herbs, I’m entering this into the Herbs on Saturday blogging challenge hosted by the lovely Karen over at Lavender and Lovage.

Herbs on Saturday

I’d love to hear from any Aussie/Kiwi readers whether anything is different in your traditional recipe or method.  What makes the perfect Pavlova for you?  Does the ownership debate still continue between New Zealand and Australia and what do you think of “your” dessert being adopted by other nations as their own?

Vohn
x

Update: I am entering this into Chris’s Foodie World Cup bloggers challenge, as Australia are playing today (18th June 2014).

Bloggers Around the World Logo

I am also entering this into the Let’s Cook challenge is run Nanya over at Simply.Food, as her theme this month is Father’s Day and this is my dad’s favourite pud!

Lets cook for Fathersday

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19 comments

  1. I love it. I’m glad you added a dish for Australia, too.

    • My pleasure Chris. We can’t be leaving Australia out! 🙂

  2. Bookmarked! I will be trying this recipe next, thank you! I had no idea it was named after a ballerina!

    • Can’t wait for you to try it Elizabeth – it’s such a great recipe! 🙂

    • Thanks Brandi – you must try a pavlova – they are unique!

    • Aw thanks Kate! I must candy some more flowers!

  3. How fascinating! I’ve never even heard of a Pavlova, but it sounds lovely.

    • I was amazed when I heard a few months ago that pavlovas aren’t really known in USA. Gap in the market for you Stephanie! 😉

  4. Such a pretty Pavlova! I love the sugared flowers as well. And, actually, I think the first picture was really pretty because you get to see the pavlova.

    • Thanks Debi! I whole-heartedly agree it is nicer to see more of the pavlova! 🙂

  5. Ooh love Pavlova and yours looks really pretty, although I think I’m with you on the less is more and prefer version number 1. I made crystallised primroses as Easter tea decorations, they not only look lovely, but taste good too. Congratulations on winning the book.

    • Thanks so much. I haven’t used flowers very often in cookery so I’m looking forward to reading all about it. Vohn x

  6. OMG! That is such an amazing pavlova and look at all of those lovely flowers too! ANOTHER Stunning entry thanks, and thanks for being such a wonderful supporter of Herbs on Saturday! Karen

    • Thank you so much Karen. I am so excited to have won the edible flowers book in this month’s Herbs on Saturday bloggers challenge. Thank you for choosing my pavlova! Vohn x

  7. Mmm I love Pavlova! And yes there is a lot of debate about where it comes from. I’d say that an Aussie or a NZer would love your version though 🙂

    • That’s good to know Lorraine. I always like to keep things authentic to their roots but have never been to your part of the world, so haven’t tasted an “original”. Vohn x

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