Pecan Toffee Meringue with Mulled Pears
This stunning Australian dessert is an ideal centrepiece for entertaining. A crisp, nutty meringue nest is baked and filled with a creamy blend of Greek yogurt and dulce de leche. It is served alongside tender pears gently simmered in spiced mulled wine. The entire dish can be prepared in advance, making it a wonderfully convenient yet spectacular treat for guests. It serves 10 people and requires about 100 minutes to prepare and cook.
Ingredients
- 600ml mulled wine ready made from a bottle
- 6 small, ripe, shapely pears peeled , quartered and cored
- 50g golden caster sugar
- 225g golden caster sugar
- 11/2 tsp cornflour
- 4 large egg whites
- 11/2 tsp wine vinegar
- 50g pecan roughly chopped
- 500g tub Greek yogurt
- 4 tbsp dulce de leche (we used Merchant Gourmet)
- extra toasted pecans (optional)
Method
- Place the mulled wine, prepared pear quarters and 50g of golden caster sugar into a saucepan. Allow this to simmer gently for 10 mins.
- Preheat your oven to 160C/140C/gas 3. Trace a 25cm circle onto a sheet of baking parchment and position it on a baking tray. Combine the 225g sugar with the cornflour in a jug. Whisk the egg whites until they form stiff peaks, then gradually incorporate the sugar mixture one tablespoon at a time, continuing to whisk until the meringue is thick and glossy.
- Gently fold the wine vinegar and half of the chopped pecans into the meringue. Spoon the mixture onto the drawn circle, shaping it into a nest with raised sides. Sprinkle the remaining pecans over the top. Place in the oven, immediately reducing the temperature to 150C/fan 130C/gas 2. Bake for 1 hr, then switch the oven off and let the meringue cool inside for 1 hr.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories390 kcal
Fat14 g
Saturates5 g
Carbs51 g
Sugars50 g
Fibre2 g
Protein9 g
Sodium104 mg
Recipe details
Skill levelEasy
CategoryDessert
Cuisineaustralian
