Mango Fools With Chocolate Anise Straws Recipes

STAR ANISE MERINGUES WITH MANGO COULIS & RASPBERRIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Tip the egg whites into the bowl of an electric mixer and beat until soft peaks form (or whisk in a bowl with an electric whisk). Add the sugar, a spoonful at a time, mixing continuously until fully incorporated - about 10 secs between each addition. Keep whisking until glossy, stiff peaks form, about 1-2 mins. Sift in the cornflour and 1 tsp of star anise, and add the vinegar. Give everything a final whisk to incorporate.
• Line two large baking trays with baking parchment. Place approx 12cm dollops of meringue on the lined trays, making 12 in total. Sprinkle over the remaining star anise. Reduce oven to 150C/130C fan/gas 2 and bake for 35 mins. Turn off the oven and let them cool inside for about 2 hrs. This is important - if you take them out at this point, they will be soft. The cooling process makes them crisp yet chewy in the centre.
• In a food processor, purée the mango flesh with the icing sugar until smooth. When ready to serve, swirl the mango coulis through the yogurt, then dollop on top of the cooled meringues. Decorate with the raspberries.

RHUBARB FOOL

Steps:

• Bring rhubarb, sugar and orange juice to simmer in medium saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Partially cover pan and cook until rhubarb is very soft, about 6 minutes. Mix in Grand Marnier. Refrigerate until cold, about 15 minutes.
• Alternate layers of rhubarb mixture and yogurt in 2 large wine goblets or dessert dishes. Using small knife, swirl mixtures together. Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 1 hour.

CHOCOLATE-ANISE STRAWS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Finely grind anise in an electric coffee/spice grinder or with a mortar and pestle. Finely chop chocolate with anise and sugar in a food processor.
• Cut phyllo sheets in half crosswise to form 6 sheets. Cover with 2 overlapping sheets of plastic wrap and then a dampened kitchen towel. Place 1 sheet of phyllo with long side nearest you on a work surface (keep remaining sheets covered) and lightly brush lower half of sheet with butter. Spoon a heaping tablespoon of chocolate mixture lengthwise across center of sheet. Fold phyllo sheet in half, enclosing chocolate, and brush lightly with butter. Starting with chocolate side, roll up pastry tightly to form a 12-inch straw. Transfer straw, seam side down, to a baking sheet, then make 5 more in same manner.
• Bake straws in upper third of oven until golden, 12 to 14 minutes, and cool on a rack. Break in half to form 12 straws.