Chef's Recipes

Leche merengada with spiced plums

Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for Leche merengada with spiced plums

  • 15 mins preparation
  • 15 mins cooking plus infusing, freezing
  • Serves 8
  • Print
    Print
Leche merengada with spiced plums
“I recently had the leche merengada with spiced plums for dessert at Ortiga and it was absolutely divine. I was hoping GT would ask chef Pablo Tordesillas for the recipe.”
Caitlin Kelly, Milton, Qld
To request a recipe, write to Fare Exchange, , GPO Box 4088, Sydney, NSW 2001, or email us. All requests should include the restaurant’s name and address or business card, as well as your name and address.

Ingredients

  • 200 gm light muscovado sugar (see note)
  • 1 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
  • 2 cloves
  • 6-8 blood plums, halved, stones removed, segmented
  • 50 ml Pedro Ximénez vinegar (see note)
  • To serve: ground cinnamon
Leche merengada
  • 500 ml milk (2 cups)
  • 150 gm caster sugar
  • Thinly peeled rind of 1 lemon
  • ½ cinnamon quill
  • 1 eggwhite

Method

Main
  • 1
    For leche merengada, bring milk, 125gm sugar, rind and cinnamon to the boil in a saucepan over medium heat. Set aside to infuse and cool (1 hour), then strain through a fine sieve (discard solids). Whisk eggwhite in a bowl until frothy, then gradually add remaining sugar, whisking continuously until soft peaks form (1-2 minutes). Fold in milk mixture, transfer to a metal container and freeze until firm.
  • 2
    Meanwhile, stir muscovado sugar and 120ml water in a saucepan over medium heat until sugar dissolves (2-3 minutes). Add spices and cook until slightly thick and light caramel in colour (8-10 minutes).
  • 3
    Place plum segments into a heatproof bowl, add caramel and turn gently, being careful not to break up plums, until they are well coated. Add Pedro Ximénez
    vinegar, gently toss to combine, then set aside to cool.
  • 4
    Just before serving, scrape leche merengada with a fork to obtain a granita texture. Divide plums among 300ml glasses, top with merengada, sprinkle with ground cinnamon and serve.

Notes

Light muscovado sugar is available from select delicatessens. If unavailable, substitute brown sugar. Pedro Ximénez vinegar is available from select delicatessens. If unavailable, substitute sherry vinegar.
This recipe is from the March 2011 issue of
.

SHAREPIN