Orange Blossom Meringues With Macerated Strawberries

In just a little bit I will be back in the kitchen preparing the rest of my dishes for my Middle Eastern dinner. I have some things already prepared and ready to cook, but I have more to do. Some things, like my desserts, are already made. I figure life is short, so start with dessert. 🙂

One of tonight’s desserts is orange blossom meringues with macerated strawberries and orange chocolate sauce. Yet another delicious way to use up some of my orange chocolate sauce. 🙂

Orange Blossom Meringues with Macerated Strawberries and Chocolate Orange Sauce

The original recipe called for rose water, but then I thought I still have quite a bit of my chocolate orange sauce left, and I have both rose water and orange blossom water, thanks to Julia, so let’s make it orange instead. As you can see, both will work just fine. One will give you hints of rose and the other will give hints of orange. Besides, when have I EVER followed a recipe exactly???? UMMMMM ….. I’m thinking …. Oh yeah! NEVER!!!!! 🙂 The original recipe also called for rhubarb, which is fine, but I like strawberries better, and I was looking for a way to use up more of my chocolate orange sauce.

I made the meringues earlier in the week and had them in the refrigerator until I was ready to finish them.

I tripled my recipe because I wanted to make sure I had enough for all my guests. There will be about 20 people here tonight. I will give you the real proportions instead of my tripled version.

2 egg whites at room temperature

1/4 tsp cream of tartar

pinch of salt

3 drops either rose water or orange blossom water

3/4 cup sugar

Preheat the oven to 200* F or 95*C.

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Beat the egg whites, cream of tartar and salt at a low speed for about 3 minutes or until foamy. Add the orange blossom water, increase the speed and beat again for another 3 minutes, or until if forms into a soft peak. Start adding the sugar, a little at a time, until it is all added in, and increase the mixer speed to high. Beat again for another 3 minutes, or until the egg whites are glossy and form into stiff peaks.

Once the egg whites are stiff and glossy, fill a pastry tube with just a plain, round tip, and pipe the meringues into a round shape, about 2 inches in diameter onto the parchment paper.

Bake for about 1 hour, or until the meringues are dry. Immediately after they are done, remove and make a little well in the center of each meringue with the back of a spoon. Turn the heat off and place the meringues back in the oven for at least another hour, to completely dry out. At this point, if you are not ready to finish them, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can also freeze the meringues for up to about 3 months.

The Macerated Strawberries

Macerated means to soften or sweeten by soaking in a liquid. It is the perfect way to sweeten strawberries that aren’t as sweet or ripe as you would like them. Maceration is a process in which produce (usually fruit) sits in a flavorful substance (usually sugar, vinegar, or juice), tenderizing the ingredient and intensifying its natural flavors. Stone fruits, berries, and even tomatoes can benefit from maceration, to concentrate their sweetness and soften their texture.

1 cup strawberries, diced fine

2 TBSP sugar

2-3 TBSP black fig balsamic vinegar

Mix everything together and let rest for about 30 minutes or so. Then drain off the excess liquid and place about 1/2 tsp of strawberry mixture into each meringue well.

With a spoon, drizzle the chocolate orange sauce across the meringues. Cover and place back in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

My other dessert for tonight is baklava. I confess though, I did NOT make it this time. I can, but why? I have my favorite local Mediterranean restaurant, called Mumtaz, Mediterranean Mumtaz that makes it perfectly, so it’s much easier and more convenient to buy it from my friend Mo than to make it. I am also helping a small local business. 🙂

Desserts are first this time, but you will soon get the whole menu. I just need to prepare it and cook it all first. 🙂

Have a great day and make everyday great. Stay safe and stay well. ‘Til next time.