CHOCOLATE PAVLOVA PIE

By ldelmas

This month's featured recipe is my Chocolate Pavlova Pie. A "Pavlova" is a traditional Australian dessert consisting of a free form meringue shell filled with whipped cream and fresh fruit.

To make the meringue easier to handle I've placed it in a pie plate (hence the pie in the title), and to make it even tastier, I've added chocolate! Crispy, chewy (and as customary, a bit messy), this delicious dessert clocks in with a slim 140 calories, is just 3 WW plus points, and is also gluten-free!

Makes 6 servings

Ingredients

• 3 large egg whites
• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar*
• 1 1/2 tablespoons cocoa powder, Dutch-process preferred
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups light whipped topping, thawed
• 1 pound of fresh strawberries, stemmed and halved

Preparation

Step 1

1. Preheat the oven to 300ºF. Spray a 9-inch glass pie plate well with non-stick cooking spray.
2. Whisk together the egg whites, cream of tartar, and sugar in a medium bowl and place over simmering water. Heat for 2 to 3 minutes or just until the sugar dissolves.
3. Remove the bowl from the heat and beat with an electric mixer on high for 5 minutes or until stiff peaks form. Using a sifter, sift in cocoa powder and cornstarch, and then fold it in using a large spatula. Fold in the vanilla, taking care to not deflate the egg whites.
4. Spoon the meringue into the pie pan, pushing it halfway up the sides to create a wide shallow well in the center. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until the outside is dry and crisp (some cracking is normal). Turn off the oven, open the oven door slightly, and leave the Pavlova in the oven to dry for one hour.
5. When cooled, and within 1 hour of serving, spread the whipped topping evenly over the Pavlova and top with strawberries and place in the refrigerator, or simply top the shell just before serving.
*Marlene Says: Because they require no flour, meringue-based desserts are naturally lower in carbohydrates. Sugar provides not only the sweetness, but all of the structure. Using a sugar substitute is not recommended.
NUTRITION INFORMATION PER SERVING: Calories 140 | Carbohydrate 26g (Sugars 22g) | Total Fat 2g (Sat Fat 1g) | Protein 3g | Fiber 2g |Cholesterol 35mg | Sodium 30mg | Food Exchanges: 1 Carbohydrate, 1 ½ Fruit | Carbohydrate Choices: 1 1/2 | Weight Watcher Plus Point Comparison: 3
All the best from my family to yours,