This meringue is based on uncooked egg whites. As slight as the hazard is, there is a hazard of salmonella when using uncooked eggs. Be aware of this if you’re cooking for the very old, the very young or for someone with a compromised immune system.
French meringue is the simplest meringue preparation, since it requires no heating of the ingredients.
French Meringue
Notice that the recipe is given as a ratio. That's so you can scale it easily. Just remember 1:2 whites to sugar. So, for 3 oz. egg white, you'll need 6 oz. sugar. For 1 oz. egg whites, you'll need 2 oz. sugar.
Tried this recipe?Please give it a star rating!
Ingredients
- 1 part egg white
- 2 parts superfine sugar (whir sugar around in the food processor for a few minutes, or, if you must, buy superfine if you can find it)
- a drop or 2 of lemon juice (the addition of a bit of acid aids in whipping)
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, or with a balloon whisk, if you’re feeling saucy, whip the whites along with the pinch of salt and a couple of drops of lemon juice on medium speed until foamy.
- Slowly add in the sugar, a bit at a time, whipping on high speed until your meringue is thick and glossy and holds medium to stiff peaks.
- That is all there is to it. How you bake it is up to you.
Did You Make Any Changes?
Notes
Use for topping pies—just run the pie, liberally swirled with your meringue, under the broiler for a couple of minutes to brown it.
Use it for oeufs a la niege.
Use it to make those keen meringue mushrooms, or mice, maybe…To make the mushrooms or mice, instead of putting the piped figures under the broiler, you want to put them in the oven for at least a couple of hours on the lowest heat setting. You want to dry them out without browning them at all. Test by digging into the bottom of one of your figures with a small sharp knife. Let them go in the oven until they are crisp and dried all the way through. If you have a gas oven, just let them dry out overnight with only the heat from the pilot light.
Use it for oeufs a la niege.
Use it to make those keen meringue mushrooms, or mice, maybe…To make the mushrooms or mice, instead of putting the piped figures under the broiler, you want to put them in the oven for at least a couple of hours on the lowest heat setting. You want to dry them out without browning them at all. Test by digging into the bottom of one of your figures with a small sharp knife. Let them go in the oven until they are crisp and dried all the way through. If you have a gas oven, just let them dry out overnight with only the heat from the pilot light.
Did you make this recipe?Please tell us what you loved!
Pastry Chef Online Participates in Affiliate Programs. If you make a purchase through one of my links, I may earn a small commission. For more information click to read my disclosure policy
Join in Today!