Eton Mess with Lemon Curd

A light and fresh British dessert of crushed meringue, berries, whipped cream, and zesty lemon curd. Perfect after a rich meal.

Prep Time

20 minutes

Total Time

50 minutes

Calories

545 kcal

Difficulty

Easy

Equipment

3 items

Cost

£2.14/serving

Season:

Meal Type:

Cuisine:

Mood:

Ingredients

Servings

2Egg Whites(Large, room temperature)

£0.20

100gCaster Sugar(Superfine sugar)

£0.15

150gLemon Curd(Homemade or store-bought)

£1.10

250mlDouble Cream(Heavy cream)

£1.80

250gFresh Strawberries(Hulled and halved or quartered)

£2.50

125gFresh Raspberries(Washed and dried)

£2.75

1tablespoonIcing Sugar(For dusting)

£0.05

Total Cost

£8.55

£2.14 per serving

Instructions

1.
Preheat oven to 120°C (100°C fan/Gas Mark 1/4). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2.
In a clean, dry bowl, whisk egg whites until stiff peaks form. Gradually add the caster sugar, whisking well after each addition until the meringue is glossy and smooth.
3.
Spoon or pipe the meringue onto the prepared baking sheet in small circles or irregular shapes. Bake for 1 hour, then turn off the oven and let the meringues cool completely inside the oven with the door slightly ajar. This will help them to dry out and become crisp.
4.
While the meringues are cooling, whip the double cream until soft peaks form. Be careful not to overwhip.
5.
Gently crush the cooled meringues into bite-sized pieces. Don't crush them too finely; you want some larger pieces for texture.
6.
In a large bowl, gently fold together the crushed meringues, whipped cream, lemon curd, strawberries, and raspberries. Be careful not to overmix, as this will cause the fruit to bleed and the cream to deflate.
7.
Divide the Eton Mess among individual serving glasses or bowls. Dust with icing sugar before serving immediately.

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My Notes

Nutrition Information

Nutrition per serving (200g)

545 kcal / 2280 kJ

Carbs

45g

17% of RDA

Fat

42g

60% of RDA

Protein

8% of RDA

Detailed Breakdown

Fibre

2 g

7% of RDA

Sugar

42 g

47% of RDA

Sodium

25 mg

1% of RDA

Saturated Fat

26 g

130% of RDA

Chef's Tips

For a tangier lemon curd, add the zest of one lemon to the mixture before cooking.

You can use any combination of berries you like, such as blueberries, blackberries, or mixed summer berries.

Eton Mess is best served immediately, as the meringues will soften over time. You can prepare the meringues and lemon curd in advance and assemble the dessert just before serving.

Pairing Suggestion: This dessert is a perfect palate cleanser after a richer main course like roast beef or a creamy pasta dish.

For a boozy twist, add a splash of elderflower liqueur or gin to the whipped cream.

Cooking Equipment

Oven

Mixing Bowls

Whisk

Wine Pairings

No wine pairing suggestions available for this recipe.

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