Grilled gooseberries and lemon zest meringues

Name: Grilled gooseberries and lemon zest meringues
Cook time: 2 h
Total time: 2 h
Cuisine: European, British
Ingredients: egg whites 4, large; white wine vinegar 1 tsp; caster sugar 200g; lemon 1, small, finely grated zest; gooseberries 400g; honey 1 tbsp; elderflower cordial 3 tbsp

4 steps

Cook:2h

You can bake instead of grilling the gooseberries if you prefer. They make a good breakfast dish this way, too. In the short time they are in season, I cook a pan of them once a week, to eat with yoghurt and oats in the morning. It’s worth remembering that gooseberries are one of the few fruits that freeze well. I keep a healthy stock of them in boxes in the freezer. This makes more meringues than you will need. They will keep for a few days in a plastic storage box. Serves 4 (with meringues for later)

Updated at: Thu, 17 Aug 2023 03:47:20 GMT

Nutrition balance score

Unbalanced

Glycemic Index

Moderate

Glycemic Load

High

Nutrition per serving

Calories271.6 kcal (14%)

Total Fat0.6 g (1%)

Carbs65.1 g (25%)

Sugars55.3 g (61%)

Protein4.5 g (9%)

Sodium57.1 mg (3%)

Fiber4.1 g (15%)

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Ingredients

4 servings

4egg whites

large

1 tspwhite wine vinegar

200gcaster sugar

1lemon

small, finely grated zest

400ggooseberries

1 Tbsphoney

3 Tbspelderflower cordial

Instructions

Step 1

Put the egg whites in the bowl of a food mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, then beat until stiff and frothy. Lower the speed and add the vinegar and sugar, about 50g a time, only adding more when the last load has been whisked in. When all the sugar has been added, keep whisking until stiff and glossy (use a hand whisk if you prefer).

Step 2

Finely grate the zest from the lemon, then fold into the beaten meringue. Set the oven at 120C/gas mark 1. Line a baking sheet with parchment, then place 1 large spoonful of the meringue mixture on to the parchment, leaving room around each. They won’t spread much, but need the room to become crisp all over. Bake the meringues for 60-90 minutes until crisp.

Step 3

To bake the gooseberries: set the oven at 200C/gas mark 6. Remove the stalks and flowers from the gooseberries, drop the fruit into a baking dish, then add the honey and the elderflower cordial and stir to cover the berries. Bake for about 25 minutes until the berries are tender.

Step 4

Put the berries into serving dishes and add a meringue to each, spooning the juices over the top.