Eton Mess

About This Recipe

Eton Mess takes its name from Eton College in Berkshire, where it has been served at the annual cricket match against Harrow School since at least the 1930s. The charm of the dish lies in its studied informality — it should look like a beautiful accident. While it can be assembled in minutes using shop-bought meringues, making your own produces a superior result with that characteristic crisp exterior and marshmallow-soft centre. The trio of flavours — sweet meringue, lightly whipped cream, sharp ripe strawberries — makes for one of the most satisfying summer desserts in the British repertoire.

Ingredients

Serves 6

• 4large egg whites(at room temperature)
• 200 gcaster sugar
• 1 teaspoonwhite wine vinegar
• 1 teaspooncornstarch
• 600 mldouble cream(cold)
• 2 tablespoonsicing sugar
• 600 gfresh strawberries(hulled and halved)
• 1 tablespooncaster sugar(for macerating the strawberries)

Instructions

1. 1

   Make the meringues

   Preheat the oven to 120°C (100°C fan). Line a baking sheet with parchment. Whisk egg whites in a clean bowl to stiff peaks. Add the caster sugar a tablespoon at a time, whisking well between each addition, until the meringue is thick, glossy and holds firm peaks. Whisk in the vinegar and cornstarch.

2. 2

   Bake and cool the meringues

   Spoon large dollops of meringue onto the prepared sheet. Bake for 1.5 hours until the meringues feel dry and crisp. Turn off the oven and leave them inside to cool completely — at least 1 hour. This slow cool prevents cracking.

3. 3

   Macerate the strawberries

   Place half the strawberries in a bowl with 1 tablespoon of caster sugar. Crush lightly with a fork to release their juices. Leave for 15 minutes. Keep the remaining strawberries whole or halved for texture.

4. 4

   Whip the cream

   Whip the cold double cream with the icing sugar to soft, billowing peaks — it should hold its shape but still be voluptuous. Do not over-whip.

5. 5

   Assemble and serve

   Break the meringues into large irregular shards. Gently fold the crushed strawberries and their juices, the whole strawberries and the meringue pieces through the whipped cream. Do not overmix — you want distinct pockets of cream, fruit and meringue. Pile into glasses or a large serving bowl. Serve immediately.

Variations

• •

  Raspberry Eton mess: replace strawberries with fresh raspberries and add a swirl of raspberry coulis.

• •

  Passion fruit and mango Eton mess: use diced mango and passion fruit pulp for a tropical twist.

• •

  Chocolate Eton mess: fold crushed chocolate meringues and a drizzle of chocolate sauce through the cream.

• •

  Vegetarian: swap the protein for roasted king oyster mushrooms, smoked tofu or cooked chickpeas — adjust seasoning slightly upward to compensate.

Storage

Eton mess must be assembled and eaten immediately. Store meringues and cream separately in advance, then combine just before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions