Ile Flottante with Custard, Caramel & Toasted Almonds

INGREDIENTS

     +    
Meringue

400g egg whites

260g sugar

2g salt

4g cream of tartar

10g egg white powder

12g vanilla essence

Splash of vinegar

1 vanilla pod, scraped

     +    
Custard

250ml milk

125ml double cream

4 egg yolks

Pinch of salt

½ vanilla bean

20ml vanilla essence

90g sugar

     +    
Clear Caramel Sauce

200g sugar

60g water

(Cook the above together to a caramel at 180c)

100ml water

1 vanilla beans, split and scraped

10ml vanilla essence

1g salt

 

     +    
Almond Praline

50g sliced almonds, toasted lightly

175g sugar

75g glucose

50g water

Pinch of salt

Method

     +    
Meringue

Pre heat the oven to 160c.

Place the egg white powder with the egg whites into a mixing bowl and lightly mix with a whisk to disperse. Keep to a medium speed, whip the whites up, add the salt, cream of tartar, splash of vinegar, split vanilla and whip until semi stiff.

Slowly add ½ the sugar in a steady stream, then increase the speed to medium high and slowly add the remaining sugar. Continue mixing until the meringue is thick, glossy and holds firm peaks when you lift the whisk out of it. While one could speed the mixer up for a faster meringue, the meringue is more stable when mixed for a longer time at slower speeds, making it less likely to deflate. The exact mixing time will depend on your mixer and other variables, so keep mixing to reach firm peaks even if longer than the estimated time.

Using a spatula, scrape the meringue into a prepared baking dish, line with baking parchment, and spray with a nonstick spray. Using a step spatula, spread the meringue into an even flat layer that is at least 5cm deep. Bake until the meringue is glossy, slightly firm, but bounces back when touched. Remove from the oven and onto a cooling rack to cool.

Using a knife dipped in hot water (re-dip between cuts) portion the meringue into 2-inch squares. Transfer each square to a clean baking sheet.

     +    
Custard

Simmer the milk and cream with the vanilla stalk and essence, then place the seeds into the yolks with the sugar and whisk until pale. Pour over the liquids and whisk well, then cook out slowly to 85c.

     +    
Clear Caramel Sauce

Bring the above to a simmer and then pour onto the hot caramel, stirring until the sugar has dissolved again and then pass through a chinois and refrigerate.

     +    
Almond Praline

Cook the sugar, glucose, and water to a caramel at 175-180c, then add the toasted almonds and salt before tipping out onto a Silpat mat and leave to cool. Once cool, crush this into a coarse praline.

     +    
To Finish

Pour the custard over the top of the cut poached meringue in the dish, place into a hot oven at 160c for 5 minutes. Drizzle over the vanilla caramel syrup and sprinkle with the chopped almond praline over the meringue.

Ile Flottante with Custard, Caramel & Toasted Almonds

INGREDIENTS

   +   
Meringue

400g egg whites

260g sugar

2g salt

4g cream of tartar

10g egg white powder

12g vanilla essence

Splash of vinegar

1 vanilla pod, scraped

   +   
Custard

250ml milk

125ml double cream

4 egg yolks

Pinch of salt

½ vanilla bean

20ml vanilla essence

90g sugar

   +   
Clear Caramel Sauce

200g sugar

60g water

(Cook the above together to a caramel at 180c)

100ml water

1 vanilla beans, split and scraped

10ml vanilla essence

1g salt

 

   +   
Almond Praline

50g sliced almonds, toasted lightly

175g sugar

75g glucose

50g water

Pinch of salt

Method

   +   
Meringue

Pre heat the oven to 160c.

Place the egg white powder with the egg whites into a mixing bowl and lightly mix with a whisk to disperse. Keep to a medium speed, whip the whites up, add the salt, cream of tartar, splash of vinegar, split vanilla and whip until semi stiff.

Slowly add ½ the sugar in a steady stream, then increase the speed to medium high and slowly add the remaining sugar. Continue mixing until the meringue is thick, glossy and holds firm peaks when you lift the whisk out of it. While one could speed the mixer up for a faster meringue, the meringue is more stable when mixed for a longer time at slower speeds, making it less likely to deflate. The exact mixing time will depend on your mixer and other variables, so keep mixing to reach firm peaks even if longer than the estimated time.

Using a spatula, scrape the meringue into a prepared baking dish, line with baking parchment, and spray with a nonstick spray. Using a step spatula, spread the meringue into an even flat layer that is at least 5cm deep. Bake until the meringue is glossy, slightly firm, but bounces back when touched. Remove from the oven and onto a cooling rack to cool.

Using a knife dipped in hot water (re-dip between cuts) portion the meringue into 2-inch squares. Transfer each square to a clean baking sheet.

   +   
Custard

Simmer the milk and cream with the vanilla stalk and essence, then place the seeds into the yolks with the sugar and whisk until pale. Pour over the liquids and whisk well, then cook out slowly to 85c.

   +   
Clear Caramel Sauce

Bring the above to a simmer and then pour onto the hot caramel, stirring until the sugar has dissolved again and then pass through a chinois and refrigerate.

   +   
Almond Praline

Cook the sugar, glucose, and water to a caramel at 175-180c, then add the toasted almonds and salt before tipping out onto a Silpat mat and leave to cool. Once cool, crush this into a coarse praline.

   +   
To Finish

Pour the custard over the top of the cut poached meringue in the dish, place into a hot oven at 160c for 5 minutes. Drizzle over the vanilla caramel syrup and sprinkle with the chopped almond praline over the meringue.

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