Dinner party: chocolate pavlova recipe

Each month my cousin, her boyfriend and my family meet up over lunch or dinner. We’re foodies at heart and love good grub, as well as good conversation. Sometimes we’ll eat out. We have a little regular sushi place that we stop by almost every second month, and sometimes we’ll entertain at home.

Yesterday we invited them to my Ma’s house for a little dinner party. Ma decorated the table {isn’t it beautiful?} and she also decided on the menu, and I cooked. Well, Ma did some cooking too, but I cook at a lightning pace so by the time Ma had done a handful of things I was pretty much done. {That’s a dig at you Ma, not that you read my blog}.

I’ve never eaten lobster, but yesterday it was on the menu. But not only did I have the pleasure of eating it for the first time. I also had the pleasure of cleaning the bugger. OMG. I know I’m a wuss, but seriously gross! They’ve got little eyes and I think I might have held their brains. Eww.

On the menu was little wonton cups filled with guacamole, vegetable rice paper rolls with homemade satay sauce, pork belly and Asian salad {prawns for my vegetarian cousin}, lobster mornay, broadbean salad, roast vegetables with truffle oil and lastly, chocolate raspberry pavlova.

After sharing a photo of the pavlova on Facebook and Instagram I’ve had requests for the recipe. It’d be mean not to share. We practically licked the platter it was on at dessert time. Promise me you’ll try this recipe at your next special occasion.

Chocolate pavlova with raspberries and cream

Ingredients
6 eggs separated, use the egg whites only
300g caster sugar
3 tablespoons cocoa
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
50g chopped chocolate {milk or dark is fine}

Topping
500ml cream
300g raspberries
50g chocolate, grated

Method
♥ Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line a tray with baking paper.
♥ Beat the eggs until peaks form. Add the sugar one spoonful at a time as you continue beating, until stiff peaks have formed and the mix is shiny.
♥ Sprinkle over the cocoa, the balsamic vinegar and the chopped chocolate. Fold through gently with a metal spoon or spatula until all combined.
♥ Pile mixture onto your baking tray into a circle. I make mine about 20cm wide. Neaten it slightly with your spoon – but don’t fuss about it too much.
♥ Put into the oven and then immediately turn your oven down to 150°C. Cook for one hour, to one hour and fifteen minutes. You’ll know it’s cooked {check around the 50 minute mark to see how it’s going} because the meringue will be crunchy and when you tap the top gently it wobbles underneath a bit.
♥ Once cooked turn off the oven, leave the door ajar and let the pavlova cool in the oven.
♥ To serve place gently on a big platter and top with double cream, raspberries {I use frozen} and grated chocolate.

Serves 6 and a toddler

Note:
♥ You could serve it with any fruit you like. Strawberries would be great too. Raspberries go perfectly though.
♥ Original recipe via Nigella

Do you like to cook? Or are you happy to just eat?

Ingredients

Method

34 thoughts on “Dinner party: chocolate pavlova recipe”

  1. I love pavlova! As a teenager I hated cake (I know, what the hell is wrong with me), so my mom always made pavlova for my birthday.

    I can't wait to try the chocolate variety! Yum. Thanks for the recipe.

  4. I am mostly just happy to eat – I used to do lots of entertaining but have got out of the habit of it since we started working two jobs and didn't have the time. 8 years later we gave up the second job but haven't got back into entertaining again !!! I think I am too lazy now.
    Have a fantastic week !
    Me

  6. I love to cook. I am also happy to eat home cooked meals prepared by others. Often when others cook the food just seems to taste so much better.
    I love taking the time to create something special for guests and family.
    I have copied the recipe and will give it a go. I hope it looks as good as yours. If I succeed I will add a pic on my blog and instagram.
    Thank you for sharing. V xo

  8. I love to cook! We have big family dinners at least once a month. The pavlova is what I am going to try next time it is my turn to bring dessert.

  10. I love to cook and entertain, although mainly I like decorating the table while my other half is slaving away over the stove 🙂
    Gorgeous photos I love the little vases and flowers

  18. Looks amazing, yum. I love to cook when things work out but hate it when they don't (and am prone to some foot stamping or even throwing utensils when pregnant!).

    I've been following your Instagram for a while and just remembered to finally swing by the blog. Really enjoying it!

    Laura

    themonsterandme.wordpress.com

  19. I am happy that my husband LOVES to cook, because I am always happy to eat. And these pictures make me want to go eat seafood and chocolate right.now. 🙂

  26. Heaven surely has to be a chocolate pavlova? Love to bake and really love to eat. Not so good on the regular old cooking though! Thank you thank you for the introduction to chocolate pavs… This could be a very serious downfall!

  29. Wow, Chocolate Pavlova – I never heard of it but I promise to bake it as soo as possible. Pavlova itself is THE memory of Christmas 2010 Down Under… I miss it!

  30. Ahhhh that looks delicious! Love pavlovas, my mum is a coeliac so they are the perfect pudding for her.
    I love to cook- which is bad for both my waistline and my young man's! This will be added to the repetoire for sure.
    xxx

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