Ispahan Macarons
Ispahan Macarons
Ispahan Macarons
Almond Mixture
160 g Almond meal
60 g Egg whites
Italian Meringue
60 g Egg whites, room temp
150 g Sugar
40 g Water
15 g Sugar
80 g Egg yolks
30 g Sugar
225 g Butter, room temp
Montage
500 g Fresh raspberries
1 There are 3 different methods to creating a proper meringue for macarons: the French,
Italian and Swiss. The French macarons (Lenôtre/Paris) is the most used in macaron
recipes, because it results in the correct texture and taste for the French macaron. The
Italian method macarons (Ladurée/Paris) is said to produce a more stable meringue
because it uses a hot sugar syrup in place of dry sugar, but the downside is that it
results in macarons that are sweeter and more challenging to bake. The Swiss meringue
offers an interesting compromise; meanwhile whisking and heating egg whites and
sugar together to 60ºC. Some claim to be the easiest but more challenging to execute
into large batches.
Cracking is an unfortunate and undesirable side effect in a macaron shell. Cracking
seems to be caused by multiple issues, including oily or wet almond meal, whipping the
egg whites for too long or not enough (French method), over-folding the dry ingredients
into the meringue during the 'macaronage' step. Excessive moisture in the air and batter
and skipping the drying step before baking; this allows cookie to form a skin allowing
the moisture to escape from the bottom while baking forming the macaron foot (pied);
foamy base. A little known fact is that macarons withstand freezing very well. Chill
macarons upward with or without filling in an airtight container for up to one week, or for
up to 3 months in the freezer.
Almond Mixture
2 In a food processor, turn sugar and almond meal into fine powdered and sieve. Add egg
white and food coloring.
Italian Meringue
Baking
4 Professional ovens tend to bake macarons much faster. A pizza stone is recommended.
If using a conventional oven preheat oven to 325ºF/160ºC and bake for about 18
minutes. If using a convection oven preheat oven to 300ºF/150ºC and bake for about 14
minutes. Bake one sheet at a time.
Montage
6 Flip half of the macaron shells and pipe out a dollop of filling in the center of each shell.
Surround with fresh raspberries (halves or whole). Top filling with a couple of lychees
and sandwich with macaron shell. Decorate with rose petal is desired. Chill for up to 4
days. Avoid freezer because fresh fruits are in used. Enjoy!