31 May World Recipes: Szarlotka
Szarlotka is one of Poland’s most traditional desserts and one of the most beloved versions of apple pie in Europe. Inspired by French recipes but adapted with local ingredients, this dessert is known for its perfect balance between sweetness and acidity, thanks to the use of green apples.
Ingredients:
For the dough:
200 g flour
125 g butter
2 teaspoons baking powder
Vanilla essence to taste
50 g desiccated coconut
3 egg yolks
For the filling:
1 kg green apples
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
For the meringue:
3 egg whites
60 g sugar
Preparation:
In a bowl, mix the flour with the butter, baking powder, and vanilla essence until you get a crumbly, sandy texture.
Set aside one third of this mixture and combine it with the desiccated coconut. Reserve.
Add the egg yolks to the remaining mixture and work it with your hands until you obtain a smooth, uniform dough. Wrap it in plastic and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
Wash, peel, and cut the apples into small pieces. Cook them in a pan with the cinnamon for 15 to 20 minutes, until soft. Then let them cool.
Beat the egg whites until they start to foam. Gradually add the sugar and continue beating until you get a firm meringue (stiff peaks).
Line a baking tin (about 24–26 cm) with baking paper. Spread the chilled dough to form the base.
Add the cooled apple filling evenly, then spread the meringue on top. Finish by sprinkling the reserved dough and coconut mixture over the meringue.
Bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C for about 1 hour, or until golden.
Let it cool completely before serving. Ideally, prepare it a day in advance so the flavours can develop and the texture improves even more.
