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Fruit meringue gâteau

Prep time less than 30 mins
Cook time less than 30 mins
Serves 6-8
Dietary Vegetarian
From James Martin: Home Comforts
Meringue desserts are easy to prepare ahead and always make a statement. Fill this with your favourite seasonal fruit.

Method


  1. Preheat the oven to 110C/90C Fan/Gas ½.

  2. For the meringues, using a cake tin as a template, draw 4 x 20cm/8in circles onto 4 sheets of silicone paper or baking paper. Turn them over and place one sheet onto each of 4 flat baking trays.

  3. Whisk the egg whites in a bowl until soft peaks form when the whisk is removed. Add the sugar and continue to whisk until the mixture is smooth and glossy and stiff peaks form when the whisk is removed.

  4. Spoon the egg white mixture into a piping bag fitted with a 1cm/½in plain nozzle. Use a dot of the mixture to stick each corner of the baking paper to the tray. (This stops the paper and meringue being blown about by the oven fan.) Pipe the mixture inside each circular template, starting in the centre and working out to fill it. Smooth each meringue disc with a wet palette knife.

  5. Cook the meringues in the oven for 2 hours. Remove from the oven to cool completely before assembling.

  6. For the filling, whisk the cream and vanilla bean paste in a bowl until soft peaks form when the whisk is removed.

  7. To assemble, place one meringue disc into a cake stand or large serving plate. Spread over one-third of the vanilla cream, then scatter over one-quarter of the sliced fruit. Top with a second meringue disc. Repeat the layering process, topping the last meringue disc with the remaining fruit.

  8. To serve, melt the sugar in a heavy-based frying pan until it starts to caramelise and turn golden-brown. Stir in the flaked almonds until completely coated. Drizzle the sugared nut mixture on top of the gâteau. Chill in the fridge for about 1 hour before serving.

Ingredients

For the meringues

  • 6 free-range egg whites
  • 300g/10½oz caster sugar

For the filling

  • 1 litre/1¾ pints double cream
  • 1 tbsp vanilla bean paste

To assemble

  • 500g/1lb 2oz strawberries, hulls removed, cut in half
  • 4 plums, cut in half, stones removed, finely sliced
  • 5 ripe figs, cut into small wedges

To serve

  • 100g/3½oz caster sugar
  • 2 tbsp toasted flaked almonds

Shopping List

Fruit meringue gâteau

Fruit and vegetables

Cooking ingredients

Dairy, eggs and chilled


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