Blackberry Semifreddi with Walnut Meringue
- 1 large egg white at room temperature for 30 minutes
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup walnuts (1 1/2 ounces), toasted and finely chopped
- 1 pound fresh blackberries (3 1/2 cups)
- 1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
- 3 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup chilled heavy cream
- Special equipment: parchment paper; 10 (5- to 6-ounce) stainless-steel or nonstick metal baba au rhum molds* or ramekins; an instant-read thermometer
- Garnish: fresh blackberries
- Preheat oven to 200F.
- Beat egg white with a pinch of salt in a small deep bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until it holds soft peaks.
- Beat in sugar 1 tablespoon at a time and continue to beat until meringue holds stiff glossy peaks, 3 to 5 minutes.
- Fold walnuts into meringue, then spread into a 9- by 6-inch rectangle (1/4 inch thick) on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake meringue in middle of oven until crisp, about 1 hour.
- Slide meringue (on parchment) onto a rack and cool completely.
- Peel off paper and break meringue into 1/2-inch pieces.
- Line bottom of molds with rounds of wax paper or parchment.
- Cut 10 (10-inch-long) strips of wax paper or parchment (wide enough to cover sides of molds) and arrange, ends overlapping, around insides of molds.
- Put lined molds in a baking pan (for transferring to freezer).
- Puree blackberries in a food processor, then force through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, discarding seeds.
- Divide puree evenly between 2 bowls.
- Stir 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 teaspoon lemon juice into 1 bowl (for sauce) and chill, covered.
- Stir remaining 2 teaspoons lemon juice into other bowl (for semifreddo).
- Beat eggs with a pinch of salt and remaining 1/3 cup sugar in a metal bowl with a handheld mixer at medium-high speed until doubled in volume, about 5 minutes.
- Set bowl over a saucepan with 1 inch of simmering water and beat until mixture registers 160F on thermometer, 6 to 8 minutes.
- Remove bowl from heat and chill mixture until cool, about 10 minutes.
- Fold in blackberry puree (reserved for semifreddo) gently but thoroughly.
- Beat cream with cleaned beaters until it just holds stiff peaks and fold gently into blackberry mixture, then fold in walnut meringue pieces.
- Spoon into molds, smoothing tops if necessary, and cover with plastic wrap.
- Freeze semifreddi until firm, at least 2 hours.
- To serve, dip each mold in a bowl of hot water 3 seconds, then wipe dry and invert onto chilled dessert plates, using paper to help pull each semifreddo from mold.
- Remove paper and let desserts stand at room temperature 10 minutes to soften.
- Serve with blackberry sauce.
- *Available at some cookware shops and Bridge Kitchenware (800-274-3435 or 212-838-1901).
egg, sugar, walnuts, blackberries, sugar, lemon juice, eggs, parchment paper, fresh blackberries
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/blackberry-semifreddi-with-walnut-meringue-108187 (may not work)