Chocolate Pavlovas with Honeyed Strawberries

Some sources claim that this dessert was originated by an Australian chef in the 1920s for the ballerina Anna Pavlova. We updated the shells with a little cocoa in the meringue, which goes well with strawberries. Note: Pavlovas do not respond well to high humidity; if they soften, place in a low-heat oven for 5 minutes to crisp.

Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients

• Pavlovas:
• 3  tablespoons  unsweetened cocoa
• 2  teaspoons  potato starch
• 1/4  teaspoon  salt
• 4  large egg whites
• 1  cup  sugar
• 2  teaspoons  white vinegar
• 1  teaspoon  kosher for Passover vanilla extract
• 
  Strawberries:
• 4  cups  quartered strawberries (about 3 pints)
• 2  tablespoons  sugar
• 1  tablespoon  honey
• 1/2  teaspoon  kosher for Passover vanilla extract
• Mint sprigs (optional)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 275°.

To prepare pavlovas, cover a baking sheet with parchment paper. Draw 8 (4-inch) circles on paper. Turn paper over; secure with masking tape.

Sift together cocoa and potato starch; set aside.

Place salt and egg whites in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at high speed until foamy. Gradually add 1 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until stiff peaks form. Beat in vinegar and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Sprinkle cocoa mixture over surface of egg white mixture; beat at low speed just until incorporated, scraping sides of bowl.

Spoon about 1/2 cup egg white mixture into each drawn circle on prepared baking sheet. Spread egg white mixture onto the circles using the back of a spoon; make an indentation in the center of each meringue circle to form a nest. Bake at 275° for 1 hour. Turn oven off; cool meringues in closed oven at least 12 hours or until completely dry. Carefully remove meringues from paper. Cool completely on a wire rack.

To prepare strawberries, combine berries and remaining ingredients in a bowl; toss gently. Cover and chill at least 1 hour; toss gently before serving. Place 1 meringue circle on each of 8 plates. Top each serving with 1/2 cup berry mixture. Garnish with mint sprigs, if desired. Serve immediately.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

173 (3% from fat)

Fat:

0.6g (sat 0.2g,mono 0.1g,poly 0.2g)

Protein:

3g

Carbohydrate:

41.5g

Fiber:

2.8g

Cholesterol:

0.0mg

Iron:

0.8mg

Sodium:

104mg

Calcium:

22mg