After watching the movie Don 2, I teased my husband affectionately that he was becoming Shahrukh Khan day by day but I can never become his Priyanka Chopra. I said this because we both are of same age as Shahrukh Khan; for this movie he built up muscles and completely transformed his body to look young. Priyanka Chopra is slim trim heroine of the movie (Watch the trailer below). My husband smiled back and said that I ( me) don’t have to be anybody but if I don’t watch my sugar intake, I’ll soon be like Tuntun (a fat indian actress of 50’s). He knows, how much I love my desserts.
So, when I was looking for a birthday cake for one of my husband’s staff I thought to look for light option with less sugar. After all, we were also eating that cake. The birthday girl has crohn disease. Like me, many of you might not even know what is crohn’s disease and how it affects the individual. It’s a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestines. A person suffering with it cannot eat gluten, vegetables and milk products. But every person is different. She can eat vegetables and cheese in small quantity sometimes. I thought to make meringue nests for her. They are light as air, crisp and are naturally gluten free. I wanted to follow Gordon Ramsay’s recipe, as they looked very pretty, however he has filled the meringue nests with cream and yogurt. You can find his recipe here, but don’t compare it with mine.
Instead of cream or yogurt filling I filled the meringues with lemon curd and topped with fruit.
MERINGUE NESTS WITH LEMON CURD
source: Gordon Ramsay
Ingredients:
For the meringue nests
4 egg whites
150 g sugar
1/2 tsp lemon juice or a pinch of cream of tartar
Assorted fruits
For the lemon Curd
4 egg yolks
zest of one lemon
6 tbsp butter
7 tbsp sugar
juice of 2 lemons strained
Method for Meringue:
Heat oven to 110 degrees F.
Tip the egg whites and lemon juice into the clean bowl of a food mixer.
Whisk until the whites double in volume and hold a peak when the whisk is drawn through them.
Keep the whisk running and add the sugar one tbsp at a time, incorporating completely before adding the next.Whisk until all the sugars has been added and the whites are glossy.
Place parchment on a large baking sheet. Pencil circles according to the size you want.
Spoon the meringue into a piping bag fitted with a plain or nozzle and pipe concentric rounds to fit each drawn circle piping two or more rings around the edge to form a nest.
It will make 14 nests of 6 cm. Make little kisses or lady fingers with the left over meringue. Bake for 2 hours until they are crisp and lift off the paper easily. Leave to cool completely.
Lemon curd:
While the meringues are in the oven, make lemon curd. Heat water in a big sauce pan.
Pour lemon juice in a small saucepan that can go on the boiling water. Whisk in egg yolks. Keep whisking.
Gradually whisk in sugar and then butter. Cook until thick enough to coat the back of the spoon. You can also cook this in a heavy bottomed saucepan over direct heat, but don’t let the mixture boil. It should be in simmering stage. The curd will thicken more as it cools.
To assemble:
Cut the fruits what ever size you want.
Divide the lemon curd evenly in 14 meringue nests.
Top it with cut fruit.
Note: It is very important to keep the temperature of the oven at 110 degrees F if you want them to be white, and crisp.
Lizzy Do
Gorgeous AND delicious! Such a spectacular dessert!
Kiri W.
I love making individual meringue cups, though I often fill them with pudding and fruit, not just fruit. The lemon curd sounds like a great addition!
Wilde in the Kitchen
This does look like the perfect dessert after a heavy holiday season. Thanks for sharing, I know lots of people who would love this!
Balvinder Ubi
Lizzy,After looking at your baking I am flattered to hear that they look gorgeous.
Tiffany
Fruit tart is my favorite dessert. This is such a fun take on it. And so PRETTY! 😀
gobakeyourself
These look delicious Neetu – they are the perfect summer heat treat 🙂
Ann
These are just stunning and that was SO nice of you to accommodate her restrictions…this looks just right after the heavy holiday foods – and I would have chosen it over cake any day…beautifully done!
Deeksha
beautiful n delicious.
Nava.K
Ah Bel! There’s some egg whites sitting my fridge after using the yolk to make creme brulee yesterday and thank for the meringue recipe. I have never made this but sure will try with whites I have. Lovely with the lemon curd (you know I have strong weakness for sour food) and fruits, nice pairing.
Btw, I have never been Shah Rukh Khan’s fan, I am more for Anil Kapoor and Salman Khan. I sure admire the beauty of Priyanka. Some of my friends did have a chance to me both of them during their the movie making in Malaysia and they can’t stop admiring Priyanka’s beauty.
Sanjeeta kk
Those tiny creations look very pretty, happy 2012 to you and yours!
Tina
Great item for the birthday girl with the diet restrictions. These type of desserts are not the usual picks, but because of that they are extra special when served. Definitely a welcome sight to see these on the table. Also, I like the lightness of this dessert. Well done!
Suzi
These look so cute and I love them lemon curd and fruit. NIce!
sangeeta
Would love fruit desserts any day and these with lemon curd look like a perfect pairing with meringues.
Torviewtoronto
delicious looking colourful dessert
Cucina49
Crohn’s is a truly awful disease, and I’m sure your friend appreciated your efforts in making her a dessert she could enjoy. The meringues look lovely, way better than my prior efforts at making them.
Only Fish Recipes
the meringues look so delicious….loved the filling of lemon curd and cut fruits !
Sandra
These turned out beautiful and would be perfect on a dessert buffet.
Julie
Awesome nest..Very delicious n perfect !!
Wishing you a Happy 2012 !!
Erivum Puliyum
Inside a British Mum's Kitchen
Simply beautiful
Mary x
Lizzy Do
Hi, Balvinder! I think plain bread crumbs will work in my recipe well…just make sure they are dried and not fresh. Hope you’ve had a good week!
Jay
Hy Balvinder Ubi,
just found your space…love your space..
awesome recipes with lovely presentation..
dessert sounds utterly delicious..
nice cliks..
Am your happy follower now..;)
do stop by mine sometime..
Tasty Appetite
Jen at The Three Little Piglets
They look beautiful! And I love lemon curd and fruit together!
Nami | Just One Cookbook
I love lemon curd and this fruit dessert looks super delicious!