Eton For the Masses
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So good was our Eton Mess at The Hind's Head, that at our last dinner party, we decided to give it a go. To make the situation even more serendipitous, we found the exact recipe from Heston Blumenthal on The Times Online.
Click here for the full article (including a bit about the origin of the mess), or read on for the recipe and a few of our own notes.
(I know, who do we think we are, trying to improve upon Mr Three Stars himself? So let the record show that we're not trying to improve it, we're just trying to make it easier - and a wee bit healthier - for everyone involved.)
First, our notes.
And now, Heston Blumenthal's most excellent recipe for Eton Mess, as featured in The Times.
Serves 4
For the meringue
100g egg whites
100g caster sugar
100g icing sugar
For the mess
4 bananas
2 tbsp lime juice
200ml double cream
Seeds of 2 vanilla pods
1 tbsp kirsch
Grated zest of 4 limes
Preheat the oven to its lowest setting (110C/ 225F/Gas Mark ) and line a baking tray with parchment. Beat the egg whites until very stiff - this is important as they must stay stiff when the sugar is added. Beat in the caster sugar, then the icing sugar. Spoon the meringue mix onto a baking tray, in 12 even shapes. Cook for 4 hours, or overnight. They should be crisp all the way through, with no colour. Turn the oven off, open the door and leave the meringues inside so they cool down slowly.
Peel the bananas. Purée 2 of them with half the lime juice. Cut the other 2 bananas into 3mm-thick slices and mix with the remaining lime juice to prevent them browning. Whisk the cream until stiff - being careful not to overwhip it - and stir into the crushed or puréed banana. Then fold in the vanilla seeds and kirsch.
Break the cool meringue into large pieces, mix with the banana cream and the sliced bananas. Spoon into a bowl and grate over the lime zest before serving.
(I know, who do we think we are, trying to improve upon Mr Three Stars himself? So let the record show that we're not trying to improve it, we're just trying to make it easier - and a wee bit healthier - for everyone involved.)
First, our notes.
- We bought the meringue at Waitrose and they were fine.
- The idea of vanilla pods were a bit too complicated for us, so we put a dash of vanilla extract (which should already be in your kitchen if you've ever baked anything sweet) in with the double cream.
- And about that double cream. It is HEAVY. Next time we'll be using whipping cream (which has about 35% fat as compared to the 48% found in double cream. And lest you think single cream is the answer, it's probably too thin, with only 19% fat).
And now, Heston Blumenthal's most excellent recipe for Eton Mess, as featured in The Times.
Serves 4
For the meringue
100g egg whites
100g caster sugar
100g icing sugar
For the mess
4 bananas
2 tbsp lime juice
200ml double cream
Seeds of 2 vanilla pods
1 tbsp kirsch
Grated zest of 4 limes
Preheat the oven to its lowest setting (110C/ 225F/Gas Mark ) and line a baking tray with parchment. Beat the egg whites until very stiff - this is important as they must stay stiff when the sugar is added. Beat in the caster sugar, then the icing sugar. Spoon the meringue mix onto a baking tray, in 12 even shapes. Cook for 4 hours, or overnight. They should be crisp all the way through, with no colour. Turn the oven off, open the door and leave the meringues inside so they cool down slowly.
Peel the bananas. Purée 2 of them with half the lime juice. Cut the other 2 bananas into 3mm-thick slices and mix with the remaining lime juice to prevent them browning. Whisk the cream until stiff - being careful not to overwhip it - and stir into the crushed or puréed banana. Then fold in the vanilla seeds and kirsch.
Break the cool meringue into large pieces, mix with the banana cream and the sliced bananas. Spoon into a bowl and grate over the lime zest before serving.
Here Is The Writer : Madame B
Foreign-born Madame B thinks she's a City girl, but mostly just walks our streets checking things out and searching for the best wi-fi hotspots offered by The Cloud. You can spot her typing furiously on her shiny white MacBook, wearing dark sunglasses and drinking a glass of champagne. She's one half of the Shopaholics, which might explain things...
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