Strawberry Floating Island
Get ready to elevate your dessert game with our Strawberry Floating Island, also known as Île Flottante. This elegant yet approachable treat is a true showstopper, featuring ethereal meringue islands delicately suspended in a pool of velvety crème anglaise. Topped with the vibrant freshness of strawberries and the crunch of pistachios, each bite is a symphony of flavors and textures. And for those craving the full experience, my crème anglaise recipe awaits in a previous post or via DM. Prepare to be whisked away on a journey of indulgence and sophistication. Let’s dive in and savor every moment!
1. Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Light and Dreamy: Indulge in a dessert that’s both delicate and decadent, with fluffy meringue clouds that practically melt in your mouth.
- Fresh Strawberry Flavor: Experience the vibrant taste of ripe strawberries in every spoonful, enhanced by a luscious strawberry coulis.
- Simple Yet Elegant: Impress your guests with a dessert that looks and tastes like a work of art, but comes together with ease in your own kitchen.
- Customizable: Get creative with variations, from experimenting with different fruit coulis to adding your own personal touch with garnishes.
2.Ingredients to make the Strawberry Floating Island
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 cup crème anglaise (see recipe)
- 2 egg whites
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1/8 tsp cream of tartar
- Pinch of salt
- 5-6 strawberries for the coulis
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp crushed pistachios
- 2 strawberries, sliced for decoration
3. How to Make
- Using a hand mixer, beat the egg whites with cream of tartar until foamy. Gradually add the sugar, one tablespoon at a time, while continuing to whisk until the meringue forms stiff, glossy peaks.
- In a pot, bring water to a simmer (you can also use milk). Drop dollops of meringue into the simmering water and poach for 3-4 minutes, flipping halfway through. Remove the meringue clouds and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess moisture.
- In a blender, combine the strawberries with lemon juice and blend until smooth. Strain the mixture to remove seeds and solids, if desired.
- To serve, pour crème anglaise into serving bowls. Top each bowl with a meringue cloud. Arrange sliced strawberries on top and drizzle with strawberry coulis. Sprinkle crushed pistachios over the dessert for added texture and flavor.
- Serve immediately and enjoy the delicate flavors and textures of this exquisite dessert!
4. Variations
Here are some creative ways to customize your Strawberry Floating Island:
- Chocolate Drizzle: Enhance the decadence by drizzling melted chocolate over the meringue clouds before serving.
- Mixed Berry Coulis: Experiment with different berries, such as raspberries or blueberries, to create a mixed berry coulis with a delightful medley of flavors.
- Almond Garnish: Instead of pistachios, sprinkle toasted almond slivers over the dessert for a nutty twist.
Are you looking for more pudding recipe’s? Check out my Caramel Croissant Bread Pudding. Also who doesn’t love Pinterest?
5. Storage
Assembled desserts are best enjoyed immediately to maintain the integrity of the meringue clouds. However, you can prepare the components ahead of time and assemble just before serving for convenience.
6. Top Tip for making Strawberry Floating Island
For the fluffiest meringue, ensure that your egg whites are at room temperature before beating, and be careful not to over-whisk them, as this can lead to a dense texture rather than light and airy clouds.
Prepare to dazzle your taste buds and impress your guests with this ethereal Strawberry Floating Island dessert. Bon appétit!
Strawberry Floating Island
Equipment
- mixing bowl
- saucepan
- hand mixer
Ingredients
- 1 cup crème anglaise see my recipe
- 2 egg whites
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1/8 cream of tartar
- Pinch of salt
- 5-6 strawberries for the coulis
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp pistachio crushed
- 2 strawberries sliced for decoration
Instructions
- Using a hand mixer beat the egg whites with cream of tartar and whip until foamy. Slowly incorporate the sugar one tablespoon at a time and continue to whisk until the meringue is thick and glossy and stiff peaks.
- Add water in a pot and bring it to a simmer( you can use milk). Drop dollops of meringue into the water to poach them for 3-4 minutes flipping the side. Remove the clouds and place them on a plate with paper towel.
- In a blender add the strawberries with a squeeze of lemon juice. Blend until smooth. Strain the mixture.
- To serve pour the crème anglaise into a bowl. Top with a cloud. Arrange strawberries and drizzle strawberry coulis. Sprinkle crushed pistachios and serve.
- Enjoy!