Healthy Living: Cacao Pavlova
Since it’s the holidays and I’m in a food mood, I’m giving you all another recipe to try. However, this one’s a little healthier. Don’t get all upset, as this dessert literally melts in your mouth.
Let’s begin…
Cacao Pavlova
Recipe by taste.com.au
Ingredients
3 egg whites Pinch of cream of tartar
55g sugar
75g (1/3 cup) raw caster sugar (1/4 cup) caster
1 tablespoon raw cacao (i.e., chocolate), plus extra, for dusting
300ml (1 1/4 cups) thickened cream
130g (1/2 cup) thick Greek-style yoghurt
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
125g (2/3 cup) raspberries
250g (1 cup) strawberries, sliced
200g (3/4 cup) red cherries, halved
Fresh mint leaves, to serve (optional) (see #6)
1-2 tablespoon olive or avocado oil, to fry (optional) (see tip)
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 285°F/250°F using a convection oven. Trace a 20cm (7 ¾ in.) circle onto a sheet of baking paper, then turnover and place on a large baking tray.
2. Use electric beaters with the whisk attachment to whisk the egg whites in a small bowl. Add cream of tartar. Beat until soft peaks form. Gradually add caster sugar, 1 tbs at a time, beating well after each addition until meringue is thick and glossy and sugar has almost dissolved. Add raw sugar in the same way. Add 2 teaspoons cacao and beat until smooth.
3. Spread the mixture over the circle on tray.
Bake for 55 minutes or until meringue is crisp and pale. Turn oven off and leave the pavlova in the oven to cool.
4. Transfer the pavlova to a plate. Place cream in a large bowl and whip to firm peaks. Fold in yoghurt and vanilla. Sift in the remaining 2 tsp cacao and gently fold through to give a marbled effect. Spoon cream mixture onto the pavlova.
5. Top with berries and cherries to decorate.
6. For an unusual crunch, lightly fry mint leaves to scatter over your pavlova. To do this, heat your choice oil in a small frying pan over medium heat. Add mint leaves, a few at a time, and cook for 30 seconds or until transparent. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towel to drain the oil, then scatter over the top.
I like to use this dessert as a center piece as it sets the mood. Beware though, you may need a napkin to catch the drool ;)
Enjoy friends and remember to stay healthy and free. -Heather Earles Heather Earles is married to a retired Special Forces Officer, and they live on a farm with their four children. She is an established author, a stay-at-home mother, and an advocate for healthy living. She publishes a weekly blog and podcast (Herb ‘N Wisdom™) and writes for her local newspaper to aid and inspire others.