Îles Flottantes
Prep time: 25 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Total time: ~2 hours (includes chilling)
Servings: 4
Country of Origin
France
Description
An elegant, delicate dessert consisting of cloud-like mounds of sweet meringue poached gently in milk. They are served floating on a chilled sea of creamy vanilla custard (crème anglaise) and finished with a crunchy drizzle of spun caramel.
Presentation & How It's Eaten
Served cold in shallow bowls. A beautiful web of gold caramel is spun over the meringue islands right before presentation.
Ingredients
For the Crème Anglaise (Custard):
500ml whole milk
1 vanilla bean (split and scraped)
4 large egg yolks
70g granulated sugar
For the Meringue Islands:
4 large egg whites
50g granulated sugar
1 pinch of salt
For the Caramel:
100g granulated sugar
2 tbsp water
Step-by-Step Directions
Make Custard: Heat milk and vanilla. Whisk yolks and 70g sugar. Stream hot milk into yolks, return to stove on low, and stir constantly until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. Do not boil. Strain and chill.
Whip Meringue: Beat egg whites and salt until soft peaks form. Gradually add 50g sugar, beating until stiff and glossy.
Poach: Bring a large, wide pan of milk or water to a very gentle simmer. Shape large scoops of meringue with two spoons and slide them into the water. Poach for 2 minutes per side. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
Caramel: Cook 100g sugar and water in a saucepan until a deep amber caramel forms.
Assemble: Pour a pool of chilled custard into each bowl. Float an island of meringue on top, and drizzle the hot caramel over the islands using a fork.
Optional
Nuts: Scatter toasted flaked almonds or crushed pralines over the top for an extra crunchy texture.
Cooking Tips
Gentle Poaching: Ensure the poaching liquid never reaches a rolling boil. If the water bubbles too aggressively, it will break apart the delicate, airy structure of the meringue islands.
Nutrition Facts
(Estimated per serving)
Calories: ~310 kcal
Total Fat: 9g
Saturated Fat: 4g
Cholesterol: 215mg
Sodium: ~115mg
Total Carbohydrates: 51g
Dietary Fiber: 0g
Sugars: 50g
Protein: 7g
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