Peach Melba Baked Alaska Recipes

PEACH MELBA

Steps:

• Put the water, sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla pod into a wide saucepan and heat gently to dissolve the sugar. Bring the pan to the boil and let it bubble away for about 5 minutes, then turn the heat down to a fast simmer.
• Cut the peaches in half, and if the stones come out easily then remove them, if not then you can get them out later. Poach the peach halves in the sugar syrup for about 2 to 3 minutes on each side depending on the ripeness of the fruit. Test the cut side with the sharp point of a knife to see if they are soft, and then remove them to a plate with a slotted spoon.
• When all the peaches are poached, peel off their skins and let them cool (then you can remove any remaining stones). If you are making them a day in advance then let the poaching syrup cool and then pour into a dish with the peaches. Otherwise just bag up the syrup and freeze it for the next time you poach peaches.
• To make the raspberry sauce, liquidize the raspberries, confectioners' sugar, and lemon juice in a blender or a food processor. Sieve to remove the pits and pour the puree into a jug.
• To assemble the Peach Melba, allow 2 peach halves per person and sit them on each plate alongside a scoop or 2 of ice cream. Spoon the raspberry sauce over each.

PEACH MELBA

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, bring water and sugar to a boil. Stir in lemon juice and vanilla. Reduce heat to low. Place peach halves cut side up in pan; cook for 5-8 minutes or until tender. Remove from the heat. Cool peaches in syrup for 30 minutes. , Remove peaches with a slotted spoon and place cut side down in a shallow dish. Cover and refrigerate for 2-4 hours or until chilled., In a small microwave-safe bowl, heat raspberry jam for 20 seconds; stir until smooth. Place peach halves cut side up in dessert dishes. Top with ice cream; drizzle with jam.

PEACH MELBA BAKED ALASKA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 250 degrees. Cut a sheet of parchment paper to fit a baking sheet. Turn over an 8-inch-diameter metal bowl on parchment paper, and trace the perimeter of the bowl; place the parchment on the baking sheet, pencil side down, and set aside. Fit a 12-inch pastry bag with a 1/2-inch-wide open-star tip, and set aside.
• Place 2 egg whites in the clean bowl of an electric mixer. Beat the whites until soft peaks form. Slowly pour in 1/2 cup superfine sugar. Continue to beat until stiff and shiny. Transfer to prepared pastry bag. Pipe a spiral of meringue starting in the center of the circle and finishing just inside the pencil mark. Bake meringue disk until dry, making sure not to let it brown, 50 to 60 minutes. Remove from oven, and let cool completely.
• While meringue is baking, line the metal bowl with plastic wrap so the plastic hangs over the edges. Fill the bowl with peach sorbet, making a deep well in the center, and press to make it smooth. Fold over the plastic wrap to cover the top, and freeze until hard, about 30 minutes.
• When peach sorbet has hardened, fill well with raspberry sorbet; press to make a smooth top. Cover again with plastic wrap; return to the freezer until ready to serve.
• Increase oven temperature to 450 degrees. Cut peaches in half, and remove pits. Arrange peach halves, cut side up, in a baking dish. Sprinkle with granulated sugar, and dot with butter. Bake until browned and tender, about 25 minutes, brushing occasionally with butter and juices. Allow to cool while finishing meringue, then cut in half.
• Just before serving, prepare meringue for the top. Prepare a 16-inch pastry bag with the same open-star tip. Increase oven temperature to 500 degrees. Place the 6 remaining egg whites in the clean bowl of the electric mixer, and beat until soft peaks form. Slowly add remaining 1 1/2 cups superfine sugar; continue to beat until very stiff and shiny, 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer to prepared pastry bag.
• Place meringue disk on ovenproof serving platter. Remove sorbet from freezer; uncover top. Warm sides of bowl with hands until sorbet comes out by pulling plastic wrap. Gently invert sorbet onto meringue disk. Quickly pipe meringue over dome. Place in oven until top of meringue just starts to brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Serve immediately with roasted peaches.

PEACH JAM AND BOURBON PECAN BAKED ALASKA

Steps:

• To 4 to 6 individual small trifle bowls, evenly divide and put the moon pies at the base. Top with the ice cream and freeze for 30 minutes.
• For the peach chutney: Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat and add the fennel seeds. Cook until they start to crackle, then add the peaches along with the brown sugar, orange juice and zest, salt and chile powder and cook over medium-high heat until the peaches are reduced by half, about 10 minutes. Cool to room temperature.
• For the Italian meringue: Combine the granulated sugar with 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan. Heat, cleaning the sides with water and a pastry brush to make sure that there are no sugar granules (which might caramelize) until the mixture reaches 240 degrees F, then remove from the heat and add the bourbon.
• To a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, blend the egg whites and cream of tartar until they form stiff peaks. On a low speed, add the sugar syrup to the meringue, and mix until the meringue is stiff and glossy. Add the meringue to a pastry bag fitted with a star tip and set aside until ready to use.
• Evenly divide and top each trifle bowl with some cooled chutney and 1 tablespoon salted caramel. Pipe the meringue on top. Use a blowtorch to carefully toast the top of the meringue, then serve immediately.