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Pastila
Apple Confections
Pastila
Pastila are a cross between confectionery and meringue biscuits. They are light, airy puffs with a delicate apple flavour, the adornment of elegant tea tables since the mid-nineteenth century.
Ingredients
Makes about 5 dozen confections.
3 large, tart green apples (1¼ lb/570 g)
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
2 egg whites, stiffly beaten
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Yellow food colouring (optional)
8 oz (225 g) sugar
¼ teaspoon (scant) almond essence
Method
Steam the apples whole and unpeeled over boiling water until tender, about 25 to 30 minutes. It's all right if the apples fall apart. Put them through a vegetable mill. Stir in the lemon juice, sugar, almond essence and cinnamon.
Beat the egg whites until stiff but not dry. Stir them into the apple mixture along with 16 drops of yellow food colouring if a pale yellow tint is desired. Beat the mixture at high speed with an electric mixer for at least 5 minutes, until fluffy, or for 10 to 15 minutes by hand.
Preheat the oven to 65°C/150°F/Gas ⅛. Spread a sheet of foil on a baking sheet. Grease it lightly and then dust with flour. Drop the apple foam by tablespoons on to the foil. Bake for about 6 hours in a slow oven, until the confections are dry. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool.
Note:- The pastila look especially lovely when served in fluted paper cups displayed on an epergne.
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