Friday 25 November 2011

Ruby’s Tiramisu


Ruby’s Tiramisu

The Italian equivalent of trifle, but easier to make - Tiramisu sounds more sophisticated than it actually is. I originally got this recipe from my good friend Ruby, (who sadly emigrated to Australia many years ago).

Ingredients for the coffee mixture:

1 cup boiling water (250mls)
4 teaspoons instant coffee
4 tablespoons sugar (60g)
5 tablespoons Marsala wine (or sherry) (80mls)

Ingredients for the mascarpone mixture:

4 egg yolks
3 tablespoons caster sugar (40g)
2 small boxes mascarpone cheese (500g)
4 egg whites

Ingredients for assembly of tiramisu:

1 packet sponge fingers (200g)
Chilled dark chocolate
A rectangular dish that is roughly 6” X 8” in size (and at least 3” deep)

Method:

First make the coffee:

1. Combine the water, coffee, sugar and Marsala wine in a medium sized bowl and keep it aside.


Then make the mascarpone mixture:

2. Whisk the yolks with the caster sugar on high speed until they are pale and creamy.

3. Add the mascarpone to the yolk and sugar mixture and whisk it in until it is smooth.

4. In a separate bowl whisk the egg whites on high speed (with a clean whisk) until they are stiff.

5. Add the whisked whites to the mascarpone mixture and continue whisking (on low speed) until they are mixed in.


Final assembly of tiramisu:

6. Put a single layer of sponge fingers along the bottom of the rectangular dish, and using a spoon pour half of the coffee mixture over the biscuits.

7. Then put half of the mascarpone mixture over the soaked sponge fingers and spread it out evenly.

8. Put a second layer of sponge fingers on top of the mascarpone mixture.

9. Spoon the remaining coffee mixture over the second layer of biscuits.

10. Spread the remaining mascarpone mixture over the second layer of soaked biscuits evenly.

11. Grate some chocolate on top of the final layer of mascarpone, (or sprinkle cocoa powder), and then chill in a fridge for a few hours.



Additional Information:

This recipe contains raw eggs, so if you have an issue with eating raw eggs then avoid tiramisu! The tiramisu needs to be stored in a fridge and eaten within 24 hours of being made because of the raw eggs.

Recipes for tiramisu abound on the internet – some have no egg white, some have cream instead of egg and various other combinations are out there – obviously I think my version is the best!

I’ve only recently been adding yolks and sugar to the mascarpone mixture - the original recipe that Ruby gave me has neither yolk nor sugar in the mascarpone - both versions taste very good.