Pavlova – Perfect Dessert for Valentine’s Day

Nothing makes me happier on Valentine’s day than having a yummy dessert with my special person.

Unfortunately, my busy life makes it nearly impossible to prepare one every single day; nevertheless, I often prepare desserts during holidays or when I have special occasions at home. Pavlova is my personal favorite when it comes to desserts and I prepare it whenever I feel like having something really extraordinary.

Simple Pavlova

Main ingredients needed:

• 4 large egg whites
• 1 cup of castor sugar
• 1 tsp of white vinegar
• 1/2 tbsp of cornstarch
• 1/2 tsp of pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup of whipping cream
• Fresh fruit (strawberries, kiwi fruit, raspberries, passion fruit) – as per taste
• 1 tbsp of fresh lime juice

How to prepare the Pavlova:

Preheat the oven (adjust the temperature to 275 degrees F). Place the rack in the oven. Prepare a baking tray with foil.

Now, take the egg whites and beat them with an electric mixer in a medium-sized metal bowl. Use an average speed. If you beat them on high speed, it is possible that they get overbeaten. Mix up the mixture until you see soft peaks on the surface of the egg whites.

Then add the sugar over the egg whites as per your taste. I use two to three teaspoons at a time. Whip it properly until it is mixed well. Once I got lazy while whipping it and the end result was sugar particles emerging on the surface. You do not want that to happen to you, so whip it until the sugar is dissolved completely.

Next add the combination of cornstarch and vinegar over the meringue and fold it in. I make use of a plastic spatula for folding it in. Add vanilla and fold the mixture again.

Now pour out your meringue into a circle on the center of the foil.  I keep the edges of the meringue higher than the center portion, leaving a hollow space right in the center to add the toppings later. Put the meringue in the oven and bake it. I keep it in the oven for 1 hour and 15 minutes. But that is not mandatory; you can take it out of the oven when the egg whites turn a slight color.

Turn off the oven and leave the oven door slightly open so that the meringue loses its heat at room temperature. I take it out of the oven only when it is time to serve it. Carefully remove the foil and move the meringue onto the serving plate.

In a bowl, whisk the cream with the vanilla extract until it turns soft, then pour the mixture into the center of the meringue.

Finally, it is time to add the fruit. My personal choice is strawberries, which are very appropriate for Valentine’s Day but you can choose your favourite. Simpy smooth the top of the cream filling on the meringue with a spatuala and garnish it with the fruit pieces as desired.

This dessert is visually such a beautiful center-piece for any romantic Valentine’s Day Dinner and tasty too – you are sure to impress!