Berries, meringue desserts and fools: Yotam Ottolenghi’s recipes for summer time desserts | Meals

Summer at all times feels a bit like playtime, which is why summer time desserts – basically an excuse to eat fruit and berries, booze and cream – at all times appear so very proper. The nice and cozy climate calls for that they’re gentle by nature – thanks, whisked egg whites! – which additionally makes them unimaginable to withstand. Maintain the playtime theme going with the elements, too, swapping out the fruit steered with no matter you must hand.

Hazelnut and cherry meringue cake (pictured high)

My colleague Jens Klotz is from the Black Forest area of southern Germany, the place the well-known gateau of the identical title originates. This totally scrumptious meringue cake is impressed by his love for cherries and macaroons, in addition to the cake he is aware of so very effectively. Get forward by making the meringue layers the day earlier than and holding them effectively wrapped, however don’t assemble the cake till the day you need to serve it. And make sure you let the cake sit for at the very least an hour earlier than serving, as a result of this helps soften the meringue and improves its texture.

Prep 20 min
Cook dinner 2 hr, together with maceration
Relaxation 1 hr+
Serves 8

For the macerated cherries
600g recent cherries, pitted and halved (530g)
40g caster sugar
1 tbsp lemon juice

For the hazelnut and chocolate meringue
230g caster sugar
130g egg whites (from 4 massive eggs)
100g darkish chocolate (70% cocoa), melted and saved heat
220g blanched hazelnuts, effectively toasted, 150g finely blitzed, the remainder roughly damaged

For the whipped cream
500ml double cream
20g icing sugar
2 tsp finely grated lemon zest

For the hazelnut unfold
120g chocolate hazelnut unfold
½ tsp flaked sea salt

Warmth the oven to 190C (170C fan)/375F/gasoline 5. Put the cherries and sugar in a medium bowl and put aside to macerate for 2 hours whilst you get on with every little thing else.

To make the meringues, put the sugar on a small baking tray lined with greaseproof paper, then put within the oven to heat up for 5 minutes (you don’t need it to soften in any respect). Put the egg whites within the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and whisk on medium-high for a minute or two, till they make comfortable peaks. Take away the sugar from the oven and switch down the temperature to 145C (125C fan)/280F/gasoline 1½. With the mixer working on medium-low, slowly tip the nice and cozy sugar into the whipped egg whites and, as soon as it’s all added, flip the pace again as much as medium-high and whisk for 5 minutes till the meringue combine types stiff peaks and has turned shiny. Utilizing a spatula, gently combine within the melted chocolate and the 150g blitzed hazelnuts.

Line two massive oven trays with greaseproof paper and use a pencil to mark out three 20cm circles – you’ll have two circles on one tray and one on the opposite. Divide the meringue combination between the three circles and unfold it out evenly so it fills the circles. Bake for 40 minutes, till crisp and barely hyped up, then take away from the oven and depart to chill.

Tip the cherries right into a sieve set over a small saucepan to catch the juice – you’ll have about 80ml cherry juice – and set the cherries apart. Put the juice pan on a medium-high warmth and prepare dinner, stirring often, for six to eight minutes, till thick, syrupy and decreased by two thirds (take the pan off the warmth if it reduces extra rapidly). Off the warmth, stir within the lemon juice and reserved cherries, and put aside.

Put the cream and icing sugar within the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and whisk for 3 to 4 minutes, till the combo types medium peaks that maintain their form (alternatively, whisk it by hand). Fold within the lemon zest and put aside.

Put the hazelnut unfold and salt in a small saucepan on a medium warmth and heat gently for 2 to 3 minutes, till melted and spoonable.

To assemble, put one meringue on a cake stand or spherical platter. Drizzle with a 3rd of the hazelnut unfold, then spoon on a 3rd of the whipped cream adopted by a 3rd of the cherries and a tablespoon of their syrup. Sprinkle over a 3rd of the damaged hazelnuts, then high with one other meringue and repeat twice with layers of meringue, unfold, cream and cherry combine. Scatter the remaining nuts on high, then depart to take a seat for an hour earlier than serving, or for as much as three hours.

Blackberry, yoghurt and orange blossom idiot

That is a simple, easy summer time pudding that’s fairly fast to place collectively. Get forward by making the crumble as much as three days upfront (preserve it in a well-sealed container). Be happy to swap the berries for an additional fruit, and use creme fraiche as an alternative of yoghurt, in the event you like.

Prep 10 min
Cook dinner 1 hr (together with maceration)
Serves 6

For the blackberries
540g blackberries, reduce in half
45g caster sugar
1 tsp finely grated lime zest
1 tsp orange blossom water (non-obligatory)

For the oat crumble
50g jumbo oats, 30g blitzed finely in meals processor
20g plain flour
40g wholemeal spelt flour (or common wholemeal flour)
¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda
¾ tsp flaked sea salt
40g demerara sugar
45g unsalted butter, melted
2 tsp golden syrup
2 tsp double cream

For the cream filling
255ml double cream
255g Greek-style yoghurt
45g icing sugar
1½ tsp vanilla bean paste
2 tsp finely grated lime zest

Put the berries in a bowl with the sugar, lime zest and orange blossom water, if utilizing, and depart to macerate for an hour whilst you get on with every little thing else.

Warmth the oven to 170C (150C fan)/325F/gasoline 3. Combine the primary six elements for the crumble in a medium bowl. Pour over the melted butter, golden syrup and cream, and stir to mix. Switch to a medium oven tray lined with greaseproof paper, then bake for 18 minutes, till golden. Depart to chill, then roughly break right into a nice crumble with the again of a spoon.

In the meantime, make the filling. Put the cream, yoghurt, icing sugar and vanilla paste within the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and whisk for 3 to 4 minutes, till the cream combine has medium peaks that maintain their form (alternatively, whip it by hand). Fold in a teaspoon of the lime zest, then refrigerate till able to serve.

To assemble the dish, spoon 30g of the cream combine into six small 9cm excessive x 6cm huge glasses. Prime every one with 30g macerated berries and 10g oat crumble, then repeat the layering twice extra, so you may have three layers of every part, ending with the crumble on high. Sprinkle over the remaining teaspoon of lime zest and serve without delay.

Peach and grape flaugnarde with chilly vanilla cream

A flaugnarde is the extra versatile relative of the clafoutis. It tends to deflate virtually the second it comes out of the oven, so serve it as rapidly as attainable.

Prep 10 min
Cook dinner 1 hr 20 min
Serves 6-8

380g sable (black seedless) grapes
4 ripe yellow peaches (400g), halved, stoned and every peach reduce into 6 wedges
90g golden caster sugar, plus ½ tbsp additional
1-2 lemons, finely grated, to get 1½ tsp zest, and juiced, to get 1 tbsp
2 tbsp darkish rum, or brandy
Salt
50g unsalted butter
450ml double cream
2½ tsp vanilla bean paste
4 eggs
50ml entire milk
50g Greek-style yoghurt
½ tbsp demerara sugar

Warmth the oven to 220C (200C fan)/425F/gasoline 7. Put the grapes and peaches in a 28cm x 7cm-high shallow cast-iron pan, add 20g of the sugar, the lemon juice, rum and a pinch of salt, combine to coat, then roast for 20 minutes, till the fruits launch their juices and they’re effervescent – the grapes and peaches ought to have softened, however nonetheless retained their form. Fastidiously spoon the fruit right into a colander set over a big bowl, to catch all of their juices, then pour the juices right into a small bowl, and put aside together with the pan.

Flip down the oven to 190C (170C fan)/375F/gasoline 5. Put the butter in a small saucepan on a medium warmth and prepare dinner for 5 to 6 minutes, till it’s beginning to brown and scent nutty. Tip right into a small bowl and depart to chill.

Combine 300ml cream with the additional half-tablespoon of sugar and a teaspoon of vanilla, then pour right into a jug and refrigerate.

For the custard, put the butter, remaining 70g sugar, lemon zest, eggs, a teaspoon and a half of vanilla, milk, yoghurt, the remaining 150ml cream and a quarter-teaspoon of salt in a blender and blitz till easy and pancake batter-like. Put aside or chill.

Whenever you’re able to bake, pour the custard into the identical 28cm pan you used to prepare dinner the grapes and peaches, and thoroughly spoon the fruits on high; some will sink, however that’s nice. Sprinkle over the demerara sugar, fastidiously switch the pan to the oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, till risen and uniformly golden on high.

Drizzle half the reserved grape and peach juices on high and serve the remainder on the aspect with the bowl of chilly cream.