Strawberries Baked Alaska is relatively simple to prepare
This recipe celebrates one of the first — and sweetest — harbingers of spring: local strawberries.
These local heroes are perfect even if you eat them raw, but here I’ve gussied them up with some borrowings from Baked Alaska: sponge cake and ice cream frosted with a thick layer of meringue and briefly set under the broiler.
I’ve kept the ice cream, swapped out the cake for the crushed cookie of your choice (I chose gingersnaps), added strawberries to the mix and finished it with the key ingredient: meringue, a.k.a. beaten egg whites and sugar.
A few notes about making a successful meringue: first, the fresher the egg whites, the better; fresh egg whites produce more volume. Second, let the whites come to room temperature before beating. Third, be sure to beat the whites in a small clean bowl, preferably stainless steel, because any kind of fat will deflate them. Finally, add the sugar slowly in a steady stream. After all the sugar is added, keep beating until the peaks are stiff.
Strawberries Baked Alaska Makes 4 servings
1⁄2 cup vanilla ice cream
10 medium to large strawberries
1 large egg white at room temperature Pinch of cream of tartar
3 tablespoons plus 1⁄2 teaspoon sugar, divided
1 1 ⁄2 tsp Grand Marnier or balsamic vinegar
1⁄4 cup crushed gingersnaps or cookies of your choice
Mint sprigs for garnish
Start to finish: 30 minutes
Using a melon baller, scoop out 12 balls from the container of ice cream, put them on a plate, cover them with plastic wrap and freeze them while you prepare the rest of the recipe.
Cut off the leaves from the top of each strawberry. Cut four of the strawberries into ¼-inch pieces and in a bowl toss them with ½ teaspoon sugar and the Grand Marnier. Halve the remaining strawberries lengthwise and, using a melon baller, scoop out a hollow on the cut side of each strawberry half (this is where you will put the ice cream ball). Cut a tiny sliver off the other side of each strawberry half so the half will lay flat when the cut side is up.
In a small bowl beat the egg white on medium speed with an electric mixer. When it is foamy, add the cream of tartar. Continue beating the egg white until it holds soft peaks. Slowly add the remaining 3 tablespoons sugar in a stream, beating the whole time. Increase the speed to high and continue beating until the meringue holds stiff peaks.
Preheat the broiler. Position an oven rack about six inches from the flame. Arrange the strawberries on a rimmed sheet pan with two or three inches between them. Fill the hollow of each strawberry half with a ball of ice cream. Working quickly, spoon the meringue over the ice cream and top of the cut strawberry and spread it out with a small offset spatula or butter knife, making little peaks with the meringue if desired.
Place the sheet pan on the rack set six inches from the broiler and broil the strawberries for 45 seconds to one minute or until the meringue is lightly browned. Transfer three strawberries to each of four plates. Spoon a mound of the marinated strawberries next to them, sprinkle the cookie crumbs over the plate and garnish with a sprig of mint. Serve right away.
Per serving: 133 calories (28 calories, or 21 per cent from fat); 3 grams fat (2 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 7 milligrams cholesterol; 68 mg sodium; 24 g carbohydrates; 1 g fibre; 18 g sugar; 2 g protein.