Swirled Persimmon Semifreddo
- 4 soft hachiya (heart-shaped) persimmons, the redder the better (see note)
- 1/4 cup Grand Marnier
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 large egg whites, at room temperature
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 3 tablespoons amaretto cookie crumbs
- Line a 9-by-5-by-3-inch metal loaf pan with parchment paper across the width, allowing enough overhang to eventually cover top of finished loaf.
- Cut down around leaves of persimmons (as if removing a tomato core).
- Quarter persimmons, cut away any additional core and scoop flesh from skin, removing any black spots.
- Place in food processor and puree.
- Transfer to a bowl and stir in half the Grand Marnier.
- Chill.
- In a small saucepan, dissolve sugar in 3 tablespoons water.
- Place over high heat.
- While sugar heats, place egg whites in electric mixer and beat until very softly peaked.
- Cook sugar to 239 degrees on a candy thermometer.
- With mixer running, drizzle in sugar syrup and continue beating until egg whites are stiff and glossy.
- Refrigerate.
- In a bowl, beat cream until peaked but not stiff.
- Fold in remaining Grand Marnier.
- Whisk 1/2 cup egg whites into persimmon puree.
- Fold in 1/3 of the whipped cream.
- Fold remaining whipped cream into remaining egg whites.
- Spread a thin layer of plain mixture in bottom of pan.
- Then drop generous spoonfuls of each mixture, alternating persimmon and plain, into pan.
- Rap pan on a counter to eliminate any air pockets.
- Use a dinner knife to cut down and up through the mixture, in a swirling motion, for a marbled effect.
- Smooth top, cover with overhanging paper and freeze at least 6 hours, until firm.
- To serve, run a knife down ends of pan, where there is no paper.
- Uncover top and invert pan onto a chilled platter.
- If necessary, place a towel soaked in hot water and wrung out, over pan to release semifreddo.
- Using a hair dryer works, too.
- Peel off paper.
- Dust top with amaretto crumbs and serve.
hachiya, grand marnier, sugar, egg whites, heavy cream, cookie crumbs
Taken from cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/3248 (may not work)