Rockets over Rostov
Based on:
TypeDessert
Serves4 people
DateNovember 13, 2026
Lemon meringue rockets over fiery berries, a dessert full of tension and heat.
Long lemon meringue sticks on a red berry compote, stacked diagonally like a salvo of rockets above a fiery base. The silhouette refers to the missile strike on Rostov and the tense mood between Russia, Ukraine, and Europe.
Ingredients
- 4 egg whites
- 200 g caster sugar
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 lemons (zest and juice)
- 250 g red currants (fresh or frozen)
- 100 g raspberries
- 50 g sugar
- 1 tbsp water
- 1 tbsp cornstarch (for the compote)
- 1 pinch salt
Method
- Preheat the oven to 120°C (fan).
- Whisk the egg whites with a pinch of salt until stiff. Gradually add the sugar, whisking to glossy stiff peaks.
- Fold in the lemon juice, lemon zest, and cornstarch gently.
- Transfer the mixture to a piping bag with a wide nozzle. Pipe 8 long, straight sticks about 12 cm each onto baking paper.
- Bake the meringues for 1 hour. Let cool in the oven with the door ajar.
- Meanwhile, make the compote: heat currants, raspberries, sugar, and water until the fruit is soft. Dissolve the cornstarch in a tablespoon of cold water, add to the fruit, and briefly thicken. Let cool.
- Spoon a wide streak of compote onto each plate as a fiery base.
- Lay two meringue sticks diagonally upwards on the compote, like launching rockets.
- Grate extra lemon zest over the sticks for a sharper accent.
Serving notes
- Serve on dark plates for maximum contrast.
- Scatter extra red currants around the base for a fierier effect.
- For extra sharpness: a few drops of lemon juice over the meringue just before serving.