BERRY PAVLOVA

Makes: 1

Prep time: 1 hr 30 mins

INGREDIENTS

6 egg whites

1 cup castor sugar

1 tsp white wine vinegar

1 tsp corn flour

½ tsp vanilla extract

400 g strawberries, hulled

1 cup castor sugar

1 lemon, zest and juice

1 vanilla pod

¼ cup sparkling wine

1 tsp cornstarch

1 cup cream

METHOD

1. Heat oven to 180°C. Mark out circumference of a dinner plate on a parchment paper.

2. Whisk 4 egg whites until stiff peaks form. Whisk in castor sugar a teaspoon at a time until meringues are glossy.

3. Whip in white wine vinegar, cornflour and vanilla extract. Spread half the meringue inside the circle, then pour the other half into a piping bag with a star nozzle. Pipe around the circle to create height.

4. Bake for 1 hour, then turn off the heat and let the meringue cool completely inside the oven.

5. Meanwhile, heat a small saucepan, add strawberries, sugar, lemon zest, juice, vanilla pod and wine, cook on medium heat until sugar dissolves. Add cornstarch and cook until sauce is thick and glossy.

6. Beat cream until stiff peaks form, fill the meringue basket with cream and top with strawberry sauce. Serve.