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Vermicelles
Vermicelles: Swiss chestnut purée strands over whipped cream and meringue
Every autumn, Swiss cafés and supermarkets fill with vermicelles: sweetened chestnut purée pressed through a ricer into long brown strands like spaghetti, piled over whipped cream and crisp meringue. Chestnuts grow in the valleys of Ticino and Valais, and the dessert is so loved that it appears as cakes, tartlets and even ice cream from September to December. A common mistake is a purée that is too soft, which collapses instead of holding strands. Chef's tip: chill the purée well before pressing it, and use a potato ricer or a piping bag with a multi-hole 'vermicelles' nozzle.
- Total time
- 75 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
For the purée
- 14 oz cooked peeled chestnuts
- ¾ cup milk
- 2 ⅞ oz sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 oz butter
To serve
- 1 cup double creamwhipped
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What you'll need
Spices & pantry
Fresh ingredients (3)
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Simmer 14 oz cooked peeled chestnuts in ¾ cup milk with 2 ⅞ oz sugar for 15 minutes, until very soft.
15 minStep 2: Blend with 1 tsp vanilla extract and 1 oz butter until completely smooth, then chill for at least 1 hour, until firm. Common mistake: soft purée; no strands.
Step 3: Put a meringue in each glass and top with 1 cup double cream.
Step 4: Press the chestnut purée through a ricer over the cream in long strands. Serve with the rest of the 6 small meringues.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 420 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 56 g
- Fat
- 20 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does vermicelles take?
- About 75 minutes in total: 30 minutes to prepare and 45 minutes to cook.
- 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 milk?
- Oat, soy or almond milk, same amount (use unsweetened for savoury dishes).
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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