CRISPY MERINGUE CUPS WITH BERRIES AND SORBET

Crispy Meringue Cups with Berries and Sorbet image

Believe it or not, these elegant meringues are made in a microwave. Top them with your favorite macerated fruit and sorbet flavor for an easy dessert that's crunchy, juicy and refreshing all at the same time.

Provided by Zac Young

Categories dessert

Time 35m

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

4 cups strawberries, tops trimmed, berries sliced
2 cups blueberries, blackberries or raspberries
2 tablespoons sugar
Juice of 1 lemon
1/8 teaspoon plus pinch fine sea salt
1 large egg white, at room temperature
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 lemon, zested
2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 to 2 drops red gel food coloring
1 pint lemon sorbet

Steps:

Stir together the strawberries, blackberries, sugar, lemon juice and a pinch of salt in a medium bowl. Set aside to macerate, stirring occasionally, while you make the meringue cups.
Whisk together the egg white, vanilla, remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt and lemon zest in another medium bowl. Add the confectioners' sugar and stir with a rubber spatula until mostly combined, and then mix with your hands until a thick, firm dough forms.
Remove about 1/8 of the dough and place in another bowl. Add the red gel food coloring. Wearing gloves, knead the dough to swirl in the color until no streaks remain. Return the red dough to the bowl with the other dough and mix together until swirled throughout.
Transfer the dough to a cutting board and pat into a disk. Cut into 8 equal pieces (about 2 tablespoons each), and then roll each into a ball. Use a finger to poke a hole, about 1/2 inch across and 1/2 inch deep, into the center of each ball. If the ball starts to crack when poked, use your fingers to press it back together. Cover with a slightly damp kitchen towel so they don't dry out.
Line a microwave-safe round dinner plate with a paper towel. Place 1 ball in the center of the plate and microwave on the highest setting until the dough puffs into a crispy meringue about 5 inches across-it should be hollow when tapped, about 1 minute 30 seconds. Use an oven mitt or kitchen towel to remove the very hot plate from the microwave and transfer the paper towel with the meringue to a wire rack.
Line a second large microwave-safe round dinner plate with a new paper towel and repeat this process with the remaining pieces of dough, alternating between the two plates so that they have a little time to cool down after microwaving each meringue cup.
Let the meringues cool completely, then carefully peel away the paper towels.
Place each meringue cup on a serving plate and top each with about 1/2 cup of the macerated berries and a scoop of lemon sorbet. Drizzle with some of the juices from the fruit and serve immediately.