Eton mess
Strawberries, whipped cream and broken meringue
Eton mess is served at Eton College's cricket match against Harrow each June, and it has become the English summer pudding for picnics and garden parties when strawberries are at their best. Crushed meringue, whipped cream and macerated strawberries are folded together at the last moment, so you get crunch, cream and juice in every spoonful. Chef's tip: fold it together just before serving; if it sits, the meringue dissolves into the cream.
- Total time
- 20 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
- 1 ⅓ lb strawberrieshulled
- 1 tbsp caster sugar
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 ¾ cups double cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 6 meringue nestsabout 80 g
- 6 mint leaves (optional)to decorate
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Halve or quarter the 1 ⅓ lb strawberries. Mash a third of them with the 1 tbsp caster sugar and 1 tsp lemon juice to a rough sauce and stir the rest in. Leave 15 minutes.
15 minStep 2: Whip the 1 ¾ cups double cream with the 1 tsp vanilla extract to soft peaks. A common mistake is whipping it stiff, which makes the mess heavy.
4 minStep 3: Break the 6 meringue nests into rough chunks, some big, some small.
2 minStep 4: Just before serving, fold the meringue and most of the strawberries through the cream, leaving streaks of red. Spoon into glasses, top with the rest of the berries and 6 mint leaves.
3 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 380 kcal
- Protein
- 3 g
- Carbs
- 36 g
- Fat
- 25 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does eton mess take?
- About 20 minutes in total.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of strawberries?
- Raspberries, blueberries or chopped peaches, same amount.
- What can I use instead of caster sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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