Blackberry Semifreddi With Walnut Meringue

Serves: 4

Halle Leffler

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

46

Spice

51

Sweetness

56

Sourness

44

mins

Prep time (avg)

5.1

Difficulty

Ingredients:

2 large

Egg

Directions:

1

Make meringue: Preheat oven to 200°F

2

Beat egg white with a pinch of salt in a small deep bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until it holds soft peaks

3

Beat in sugar 1 tablespoon at a time and continue to beat until meringue holds stiff glossy peaks, 3 to 5 minutes

4

Fold walnuts into meringue, then spread into a 9- by 6-inch rectangle (1/4 inch thick) on a parchment-lined baking sheet

5

Bake meringue in middle of oven until crisp, about 1 hour

6

Slide meringue (on parchment) onto a rack and cool completely

7

Peel off paper and break meringue into 1/2-inch pieces

8

Preheat oven to 200°F

9

Beat egg white with a pinch of salt in a small deep bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until it holds soft peaks

10

Beat in sugar 1 tablespoon at a time and continue to beat until meringue holds stiff glossy peaks, 3 to 5 minutes

11

Fold walnuts into meringue, then spread into a 9- by 6-inch rectangle (1/4 inch thick) on a parchment-lined baking sheet

12

Bake meringue in middle of oven until crisp, about 1 hour

13

Slide meringue (on parchment) onto a rack and cool completely

14

Peel off paper and break meringue into 1/2-inch pieces

15

Make sauce and semifreddo: Line bottom of molds with rounds of wax paper or parchment

16

Cut 10 (10-inch-long) strips of wax paper or parchment (wide enough to cover sides of molds) and arrange, ends overlapping, around insides of molds

17

Put lined molds in a baking pan (for transferring to freezer)

18

Purée blackberries in a food processor, then force through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, discarding seeds

19

Divide purée evenly between 2 bowls

20

Stir 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 teaspoon lemon juice into 1 bowl (for sauce) and chill, covered

21

Stir remaining 2 teaspoons lemon juice into other bowl (for semifreddo)

22

Beat eggs with a pinch of salt and remaining 1/3 cup sugar in a metal bowl with a handheld mixer at medium-high speed until doubled in volume, about 5 minutes

23

Set bowl over a saucepan with 1 inch of simmering water and beat until mixture registers 160°F on thermometer, 6 to 8 minutes

24

Remove bowl from heat and chill mixture until cool, about 10 minutes

25

Fold in blackberry purée (reserved for semifreddo) gently but thoroughly

26

Beat cream with cleaned beaters until it just holds stiff peaks and fold gently into blackberry mixture, then fold in walnut meringue pieces

27

Spoon into molds, smoothing tops if necessary, and cover with plastic wrap

28

Freeze semifreddi until firm, at least 2 hours

29

Line bottom of molds with rounds of wax paper or parchment

30

Cut 10 (10-inch-long) strips of wax paper or parchment (wide enough to cover sides of molds) and arrange, ends overlapping, around insides of molds

31

Put lined molds in a baking pan (for transferring to freezer)

32

Purée blackberries in a food processor, then force through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, discarding seeds

33

Divide purée evenly between 2 bowls

34

Stir 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 teaspoon lemon juice into 1 bowl (for sauce) and chill, covered

35

Stir remaining 2 teaspoons lemon juice into other bowl (for semifreddo)

36

Beat eggs with a pinch of salt and remaining 1/3 cup sugar in a metal bowl with a handheld mixer at medium-high speed until doubled in volume, about 5 minutes

37

Set bowl over a saucepan with 1 inch of simmering water and beat until mixture registers 160°F on thermometer, 6 to 8 minutes

38

Remove bowl from heat and chill mixture until cool, about 10 minutes

39

Fold in blackberry purée (reserved for semifreddo) gently but thoroughly

40

Beat cream with cleaned beaters until it just holds stiff peaks and fold gently into blackberry mixture, then fold in walnut meringue pieces

41

Spoon into molds, smoothing tops if necessary, and cover with plastic wrap

42

Freeze semifreddi until firm, at least 2 hours

43

To serve, dip each mold in a bowl of hot water 3 seconds, then wipe dry and invert onto chilled dessert plates, using paper to help pull each semifreddo from mold

44

Remove paper and let desserts stand at room temperature 10 minutes to soften

45

Serve with blackberry sauce

46

To serve, dip each mold in a bowl of hot water 3 seconds, then wipe dry and invert onto chilled dessert plates, using paper to help pull each semifreddo from mold

47

Remove paper and let desserts stand at room temperature 10 minutes to soften

48

Serve with blackberry sauce

49

*Available at some cookware shops and Bridge Kitchenware (800-274-3435 or 212-838-1901)

50

*Available at some cookware shops and Bridge Kitchenware (800-274-3435 or 212-838-1901)