Floating Island
Ile Flottante

What is a floating island?
A cold dessert and a classic french cooking recipe. Floating island is a kind of very light meringue made of egg whites and sugar in custard sauce.

Floating Island Recipe serve 6

Step 1: Boil milk in a saucepan over medium heat. Then reduce heat to very low.

Step 2: Preheat oven at 250 degrees. Beat egg whites with an electric mixer until foamy. Add a pinch a salt and beat again for a couple of seconds.

Step 3: Add sugar and vanilla, one tablespoon after another and beat the mixture.

Step 4: With a tablespoon, place delicately the egg whites in the milk, leave for 2 minutes then turn aside and leave again for 2 minutes. Remove whites from the milk and skim.

Step 5: Bake in oven for 20 minutes. The whites will rise so you need a deep baking dish. Let the meringue cool for half and hour and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours.

Serving: Add caramel if there is not enough left in the baking dish and custard sauce. So that egg whites will float in a sea of custard sauce.

Wine suggestion: Champagne, Sauternes, Gewurztraminer, sweet white wine (French Wine Guide).

Bon appétit!