Ask a Chef reveals the secrets of those superb dishes you ate in cafes and restaurants and wanted to try yourself.
Marbecks’ orange and apricot amaretti
Ingredients
370g almond meal
210g caster sugar plus 40g for meringue
2 oranges finely zested
160g dried apricots diced
115g egg whites
pinch salt
icing sugar for rolling
Method
Rub orange zest into first measure of sugar with your hands to release the oils into the sugar.
Add almond meal and apricots and mix to combine. Set aside.
Add a pinch of salt to the egg whites.
Whisk whites until they start to foam and sprinkle in the second measure of sugar while continuing to whisk until soft peaks form.
Gently fold egg whites into the dry ingredients until just combined.
Portion the mixture into about 70g balls and roll into 10cm logs.
Bake at 170degC fanbake for 20-25 minutes.
Roll in icing sugar.
Recipe provided by Marbecks and requested by Rosemary McGregor.
If you have enjoyed a dish in an Otago cafe or restaurant and would like the recipe, write to Ask a Chef, Features, Otago Daily Times, PO Box 517, Dunedin, fax 474-7422, or email odt.features@odt.co.nz, including your name, address and a daytime telephone number, and we will request it.
