Classic Eton Mess

A Classic Eton Mess has three essential ingredients, beautifully ripe strawberries, meringue and whipped cream. It can easily be made with store-bought meringues, for a simple yet lovely dessert, pretty enough for company.

The folklore behind the quintessential English dessert, Eton Mess, is that it was created when a group of Etonians, students at that famous school, were headed out for a picnic, a meringue topped with whipped cream and berries stashed in the car. The story goes that one of their dogs stepped on the dessert, crushing the meringue and generally making a mess of it. They ate it anyway and declared it delicious.

But if Wikipedia is to be believed, the truth is rather less romantic. The classic Eton mess was first mentioned in print back in 1893. To quote that source, “Eton mess was served in the 1930s in the school’s ‘sock shop’ (tuck shop), and was originally made with either strawberries or bananas mixed with ice-cream or cream. Meringue was a later addition. An Eton mess can be made with many other types of summer fruit, but strawberries are regarded as more traditional.”

Classic Eton Mess

This can be made in one big bowl from which you will serve with a spoon or in six individual bowls. The pistachios are not traditional but they add a lovely pop of green to the Classic Eton Mess. If you are making your own meringues, start one day ahead of assembling and serving this dessert to leave plenty of time for the meringues to dry out and get crunchy. 

Ingredients

1 1/2 lbs or 680g ripe strawberries

1/2 cup or 100g sugar

Pinch salt

1­-2 tablespoons orange liqueur (e.g. Triple Sec, Cointreau or Grand Marnier)

1 1⁄2 cups or 360ml whipping cream 

18 small meringues­ - homemade or store-bought 

2 tablespoons pistachio slivers, optional

Method

Hull and chop the strawberries roughly.

Put half of the chopped strawberries in a small pot with the sugar, a good pinch of salt and a tablespoon of water. 

Cook over a medium heat for about 3­-4 minutes, crushing the strawberries lightly with a fork or potato masher when they start to soften. Cook at a low boil for another 3­-4 minutes, until the strawberries and syrup that is created have thickened somewhat.

Put the hot strawberries in a heatproof bowl, stir in the orange liqueur and leave to cool. 

Stir in the rest of the strawberries. Cover with cling film and refrigerate until completely chilled.

Once the strawberries are cold, whip the cream into stiff peaks. Divide it in half and fold one quarter of the strawberries into half of the cream.

To serve, make small layers from the bottom: 

1. strawberries 

2. pink cream (with strawberries)

3. 2 small meringues, crumbled roughly 

4. white cream (plain)

5. strawberries 

6. slivered pistachios (if desired) and a whole mini meringue on top.

Enjoy! 

It’s Sunday FunDay and what could be more fun than some great dessert recipes. Check them all out below. Many thanks to our host, Sneha of Sneha’s Recipe. 

• Alle Balle Recipe by The Mad Scientist's Kitchen
• Berry Galette by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
• Bread Rasmalai by Sneha’s Recipe
• Classic Eton Mess by Food Lust People Love
  
• Patriotic Jello Bars by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Strawberry Glaze Pie by Palatable Pastime
• Strawberries and Cream by Mayuri’s Jikoni
• Whisky Barrel Cake by Amy's Cooking Adventures

 

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