Cremeux to the top!

Cutting through the somewhat theatrical nature of so many online cooking demonstrations, I am almost universally intrigued to learn new techniques and, being the reason something attracts me in the first place, new dishes or concoctions.

Cremeux is an interesting combo of both a new (to me) technique, and learning the properties of its ingredients in getting the result. When presented with reverence and a decidedly slower motion serving (you know, that spoon that scoops a perfectly shaped quenelle for plating), cremeux struck me as something that might be a bit to finicky to tackle. Then I happened on a post by Peter Sawkins, and somehow, when he somewhat casually mentioned and prepared a cremeux, making it look effortless, I finally got up the courage to try it.

Cremeux is a custardy mixture of egg yolks, sugar, cream/milk, and chocolate. What got my attention was Peter’s cremeux – no milk or cream, but lime juice, and white chocolate rather than dark. And he made it look simple. Time to have a go at it, and you can find both versions here.

This is a take on Peter’s dessert with a lemon, rather than lime, cremeux. It’s an individual-sized pavlova, with whipped cream and the cremeux. The white chocolate doesn’t announce itself as a dark chocolate would, and the look is somewhat the same as a lemon curd.

This version uses a raspberry puree in lieu of whipped cream, and adds a flavor component that is on equal footing with the lemon. A dollop of raspberry jam (warmed to make it a bit more fluid) would work as well. It’s a delightful flavor bomb – it was the preferred version for my taste-testing neighbors.

This is a pavlova, piped on the outside of a hemispherical silicone mold to create a cup effect. The center is orange/chocolate cremeux, surrounded by whipped cream infused with orange oil and Grand Marnier. Fun to make, delicious to eat, and can be done a bit ahead.

More to come. Meanwhile, try it and have some delicious fun!!! The orange/chocolate version is a pleasant take on Nutella on toast!!!