Monday 2 October 2017

GBBO 2017 Week 5 - Berry Lime Trifle

Lime and Mixed Berry Trifle


The showstopper on Week 5 of the Great British Bake Off (Dessert week) were the British classic, Trifle, but they had to not just be slopped in a glass. These had to be shaped like a terrine, that could be sliced, and needed to look as pretty on the inside as it did on the outside. Sophie made an impressive trifle with raspberries and yuzu (a Japanese citrus fruit), which got her star baker. I couldn't find yuzu anywhere (unsurprising), so decided to switch it for lime juice. I also used a mixture of strawberries, raspberries and blackberries in the jelly and mousse layer, which gave the trifle a lovely sweet but sharpness.

Trifles traditionally are layers of lady finger sponge, custard, jam and cream, but Sophie added many more elements to the dish, with a white chocolate bavarois (basically a custard with folded in cream) and raspberry mousse. Although I couldn't see the different layers of white chocolate bavarois and lime custard, the flavours are really distinct and each layer tasted brilliant.

It's honestly not difficult to make! Don't rush the steps, and make sure each layer has set before adding the next, but other than that, the hardest bit to make is the sponge. You could always buy some sponge fingers if you want an oven-free bake (it will still taste amazing!).

Finally, I halved Sophie's recipe, simply because we had no one to share the trifle is, so we're currently eating slices of it after dinner. This recipe would still serve 6 people easily.

Serves 6

Ingredients:

For the lady-finger sponge layer:
  • 2 medium eggs, separated
  • Good pinch of salt
  • 65g (1/3 cup) caster sugar
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla bean paste
  • 55g (1/2 cup) plain flour
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice (optional)

For the mixed berry jelly:
  • 2 leaves gelatine 
  • 55g (1/4 cup) caster sugar
  • 100g (7/8 cup) mixed berries (I used a mixture of strawberries, raspberries and blackberries)
  • 125ml (1/2 cup) water

For the lime custard:
  • About 1 &1/4 leaves gelatine
  • 90ml (2/5 cup) double cream
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
  • 1 medium egg yolks, at room temperature
  • 35g (2 tbsp) caster sugar
  • 50ml (1/5 cup) lime juice

For the white chocolate bavarois:
  • 1 leaf gelatine
  • 60g (1/3 cup) good-quality white chocolate, finely chopped
  • 60ml (1/4 cup) whole milk
  • 1 medium egg yolk, at room temperature
  • 1/2 tbsp caster sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
  • 90ml double cream, chilled

For the raspberry mousse:
  • 3 quarters of 1 leaf of gelatine 
  • 75g (5/8 cup) mixed berries (I used a mixture of strawberries, raspberries and blackberries)
  • 2 tsp caster sugar
  • 60ml (1/4 cup) double cream, well chilled

Method:

1. Prepare the 2 lb (approximately 23 x 13 x 7cm) loaf tin: press the cling film into the tin so it lines the base and sides, and leave the excess hanging over the edge. Chill until needed.

2. To make the sponge: heat the oven to 190°C(170°C fan)/375°F/Gas Mark 5. Grease and line the base of a 20 x 30cm swiss roll tin with baking parchment.

3. Put the egg yolk into a mixing bowl, or the bowl of a food mixer, and the white into another mixing bowl. Whisk the white with the salt using an electric whisk or food mixer – until the whisk leaves soft peaks when lifted – then whisk in half the sugar. Set the bowl aside.

4. Add the remaining sugar and the vanilla to the egg yolks and whisk (there's no need to wash the whisk) until very pale, thick and the whisk leaves a distinct ribbon-like trail when lifted from the bowl. Gently fold the white into the egg yolk using a large metal spoon or plastic spatula. Sift the flour into the bowl and carefully fold in until thoroughly combined.

5. Transfer the mixture to the prepared Swiss roll tin and spread evenly so the corners are well filled. Bake in the oven for 12-15 minutes, until golden and springy when gently pressed with a finger. Run a round-bladed knife around the inside of the tin to loosen the sponge. Leave to cool for a few minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack, brush with lime juice (if using) and leave to cool completely. If not using immediately, wrap in baking paper and store in an airtight container.

4. To make the mixed berry jelly layer, put the gelatine into a bowl of cold water and leave to soak and soften for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, put the sugar and 100g of the mixed berries into a pan with the water and cook gently, stirring frequently, until the sugar has dissolved and the mixed berries are very soft and pulpy. Remove the pan from the heat. Remove the gelatine from the water, squeeze out the excess water and whisk into the hot berry mixture until completely dissolved. Strain into a jug, pressing down on the fruit to give a smooth, pulpy liquid (discard the seeds). Pour into the chilled tin. Return the tin to the fridge and chill until set.

5. To make the lime custard, soak the gelatine in cold water as before. Pour the cream into a medium-sized pan and heat until almost boiling. Remove the pan from the heat. Whisk the vanilla, egg yolks and sugar in a heatproof bowl until pale and creamy. Gradually whisk in the hot cream in a slow, steady stream.

6. When thoroughly combined, tip the mixture back into the pan and stir over a low heat until the custard thickens enough to coat the back of the wooden spoon – don’t let the mixture come anywhere near boiling or it will curdle. Remove the pan from the heat, squeeze out the excess water from the gelatine and stir into the custard until completely dissolved. Stir in the lime juice then strain into a jug and leave to cool, stirring frequently. Once the custard is cold (but still fluid) carefully pour it evenly over the jelly layer in the tin and chill until set.

7. To make the white chocolate bavarois, soak the gelatine in cold water as previously. Chop the white chocolate finely and pour into a heatproof bowl. Heat the milk in a saucepan until almost boiling then remove the pan from the heat. Whisk the egg yolks, sugar and vanilla paste until pale and thick, then gradually whisk in the hot milk. When thoroughly combined, tip the mixture back into the pan and stir over a low heat until the custard thickens enough to coat the back of the wooden spoon.

8. Remove the pan from the heat stir in the squeezed-out gelatine. Strain the custard over the chopped chocolate, leave for a minute, then stir until melted and smooth. Leave to cool, stirring frequently. Whip the cream until soft peaks form then carefully fold into the cold (but still fluid) custard. Pour half the chocolate mixture into the tin, on top of the custard, and chill until set. Keep the remaining mixture on the worktop and stir frequently to prevent it from setting.

9. While the bavarois layer sets, make the raspberry mousse layer. Soak the gelatine as in the other sections of the bake. Puree the mixed berries by whizzing them in a food processor, then press through a sieve to discard the seeds.

10. Pour half the puree into a pan, add the sugar and stir over a low heat until the sugar has completely dissolved. Remove the pan from the heat and add the squeezed-out gelatine. When dissolved, stir in the remaining puree. Leave until completely cold, stirring frequently.

11. Whip the cream until at soft-peak stage then fold in the cold puree. Pour into the tin to make an even layer. Place in the freezer for a few minutes to set the raspberry mousse quickly.

12. Spoon the rest of the chocolate bavarois on top of the (set) raspberry mousse layer and spread evenly.

13. Cut the sponge into a rectangle to fit on top of the layers in the tin and gently press it in place. Tightly wrap the terrine using the cling film hanging over the edges of the tin and chill until set and firm. I left mine for 4 hours and it was set perfectly, but you could easily just make it the night before you need it.

14.  To finish, unwrap the terrine and turn it out onto a serving platter.  If not serving immediately, return to the fridge.

15. Enjoy!

Lime and Mixed Berry Trifle

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