Peach and raspberry pavlova

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 160°C (315°F). Beat the eggwhites until soft peaks form, then whisk in the sugar, then the vinegar, cornflour and vanilla essence. The mixture should be stiff by now. Tip onto a baking tray lined with baking paper and use a spatula to form a steep-sided round, 6 cm (2½ inch) high and 25 cm (10 inches) diameter.

Step 2

Bake for 10 minutes, then reduce the oven to 140°C (275°F) and bake for about 90 minutes, checking that it doesn’t brown too much—if at all—and turning down the oven further as need be. Allow to cool in the turned-off oven (some modern ovens may need to be wedged open so the meringue doesn’t sweat).

Step 3

Combine the mascarpone, cream, rosewater (if using), icing sugar and seeds scraped from the vanilla bean. Stir well, taking care not to overwhip or the mixture will split. Heat half the raspberries over gentle heat to break them down to a sauce. Allow to cool and stir, in one or two quick motions, into the mascarpone mixture so it’s kind of rippled.

Step 4

Heat the blackcurrants with the sugar and water in a small saucepan over high heat to melt and soften. When fruit is soft, press through a sieve and discard solids.

Step 5

Spread lemon curd over the top of the pav, cover with the mascarpone mixture, then garnish with sliced peaches, the remaining raspberries and the blueberries and silvanberries if you have them. Drizzle on the blackcurrant syrup to serve.