Ingredients

  • 1 cardamom, pod
  • 1 clove
  • 12 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 12 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 egg white
  • 50 g caster sugar
  • 12 teaspoon cornstarch
  • 14 teaspoon white wine vinegar
  • 14 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 12 teaspoon orange zest
  • 2 tablespoons creme fraiche (Use whipped cream mixed with sour cream if unavailable)
  • 300 ml red wine
  • 85 g caster sugar
  • 2 cloves
  • 2 allspice berries
  • 1 cinnamon stick, broken in half
  • 4 cardamom pods
  • 12 lemon, zest of
  • 12 orange, zest of
  • 1 vanilla pod, split
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 6 dried figs
  • 125 ml mulled wine, reserved from the figs
  • 50 g caster sugar
  • 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
  • 25 g plain chocolate squares, broken into small pieces

Method

  • To make the meringues, heat the oven to 275 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Using a spice grinder, finely grind the cardamom seeds, clove, allspice and cinnamon together.
  • Whisk the egg white until stiff peaks form, then gradually whisk in the sugar, a tablespoon at a time, until you have a stiff, shiny mixture.
  • Fold in the cornstarch, vinegar, vanilla, spice mix and orange zest.
  • Divide the mixture into two on the prepared baking sheet and use the back of a spoon to make a slight hollow in the centre of each.
  • Bake for 50 minutes until crisp, then turn off the heat and leave the meringues cooling in the oven for 30 minutes.
  • Finish cooling on a wire rack.
  • For the figs, put all the ingredients (except the figs) in a saucepan and bring to the boil.
  • Remove from the heat and leave to infuse for 30 minutes.
  • Reheat the liquid, pour over the figs, then leave over night or at least, until cool.
  • Drain the figs, reserving the liquid, and thickly slice each into 2 or 3 pieces.
  • To make the sauce, put 125 ml of the reserved fig liquid and sugar in a pan.
  • Stir over low heat until the sugar has dissolved, then whisk in the cocoa and chocolate.
  • The mixture will thicken as the chocolate melts.
  • Allow the sauce to cool to room temperature.
  • To assemble, spoon a little creme fraiche onto each pavlova, top with the fig slices and drizzle with chocolate sauce.
  • Serve extra sauce on the side.