Fall

Pear pavlova with undertones of lavender and ginger

by:
November 10, 2010
0
0 Ratings
  • Serves 4
Author Notes

Having made egg custard earlier this week which in turn became ice cream, I was still left with several egg whites. Having recently moved some of my kitchen garden indoors in pots to extend the season, I have a number of herbs I wanted to use before I dry them. Limited to pear and cranberry without another trip to the market I decided to employ my lavender and ginger in this mission. —Sagegreen

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 4 egg whites, room temperature
  • 1/2-3/4 cups castor sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vinegar, optional (pear infused if you have it)
  • 2 teaspoons corn starch, optional
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon minced lavender flowers, fresh or crumpled and dried, or just use 1 tbl. of lavender sugar
  • 4 fresh pears, pared and thinly sliced
  • 4 tablespoons fresh grated ginger
  • 4 sugared fresh cranberries, halved, or dried (or cherries)
  • lavender leaves, optional
  • splash of Poire Williams, Domaine de Canton, or St. Germain
  • 1 cup whipping cream
  • 2-3 tablespoons sugar, to taste
Directions
  1. Preferably in a copper bowl beat the egg whites with a mixer. Gradually add the castor sugar, one tablespoon at a time. When the peaks are getting stiff, pour in the optional vinegar; fold in the optional cornstarch if you want. Continue beating until peaks stiffen. Sprinkle in the ginger and lavender.
  2. On a baking sheet line with parchment paper create 4 nests out of the stiff meringue. Bake in a 250 degree oven until the nests become lightly brown on top, about 40 minutes. Turn off the oven and let them sit there for several hours, even overnight until completely cooled.
  3. After the meringue shells are ready, peel them from the parchment and plate them.
  4. Whip the cream with splash of Poire Williams, Domaine de Canton, or St. Germain and dash of sugar to taste.
  5. Layer the cream on top of each meringue nest. Next arrange the thin pear slices on top. At the center plant a clump of fresh ginger. Center a halved sugared cranberry on the ginger. Arrange the lavender leaves in a concentric pattern around the cranberry if you like. I like to create a flower with the fruits.
  6. Let the flavors co-mingle for at least one hour, if not longer. Then serve and enjoy right away. Leftovers for breakfast are not very appealing with this dish, so please finish each portion while they are prime.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • boulangere
    boulangere
  • Lizthechef
    Lizthechef
  • SallyCan
    SallyCan
  • Kitchen Butterfly
    Kitchen Butterfly
  • Sagegreen
    Sagegreen

10 Reviews

boulangere September 11, 2011
Beautiful in every possible way!
 
boulangere September 11, 2011
And what is that beautiful china plate?
 
Lizthechef September 10, 2011
Beautiful recipe and such a stunner of a shot!
 
Sagegreen September 10, 2011
Thank you kindly, Liz.
 
SallyCan November 14, 2010
Sorry to hear that you haven't been well, Sagegreen, and hope that you're feeling better...though your "not so very active" seems pretty active to me!
 
Sagegreen November 14, 2010
Thanks, I started feeling better today!
 
SallyCan November 12, 2010
Another interesting recipe, and another cool photo. Who made the plate?
 
Sagegreen November 14, 2010
Thanks. Sorry not to answer right away..have been down with the flu, so not very active. I love all of your thoughtful perceptions about my photos! This plate is by Johnston Brothers, the Countess pattern, no longer made.
 
Kitchen B. November 11, 2010
That plate is STUNNINGGGGGGG, I love the garnish and the flavours. Gorgeous
 
Sagegreen November 11, 2010
Thanks, Kitchen Butterfly! Your entries are always stunning!