Ina Garten’s Salted Pistachio Meringues Recipe with Light Crunch

These salted pistachio meringues dance between sweet and savory, offering a sophisticated twist on traditional dessert expectations.

Crisp edges give way to a soft, pillowy interior that melts delicately on your tongue.

Each meringue represents a delicate balance of textures and flavors, combining the nutty richness of pistachios with a subtle salty undertone.

Light as clouds yet surprisingly complex, these delicate treats transform simple ingredients into an elegant culinary experience.

The meringue’s glossy surface hints at the careful technique required to achieve such perfection.

Professional bakers and passionate home cooks alike will appreciate the refined technique behind these stunning confections: prepare to elevate your dessert game.

Why Salted Pistachio Meringues Are a Delight

• Craft Luxurious Texture: These meringues offer an extraordinary sensory experience with their crispy exterior and delightfully soft marshmallow-like center, creating a magical contrast that melts beautifully in your mouth.
• Transform Simple Ingredients: Ina Garten's recipe elevates basic egg whites and sugar into an elegant dessert through her clever technique of caramelizing sugar before incorporating it, which intensifies the meringues' depth of flavor and creates a stunning glossy finish.
• Master Gourmet Technique: The step-by-step process teaches home bakers a professional-level method of creating meringues, allowing even novice cooks to produce restaurant-quality desserts with patience and precise temperature control.
• Indulge Sophisticated Flavor Profile: Chopped pistachios and fleur de sel provide a stunning savory-sweet combination, adding complexity and unexpected richness to the classic meringue, transforming it from a simple sweet treat into a gourmet delicacy.

Everything You Need for Perfect Meringues

Main Ingredients:

• Sugar: A key sweetener that caramelizes slightly to create complex flavor and structure for meringues.
• Egg Whites: The primary protein base that creates the light, airy texture of meringues.

• Vanilla Extract: Adds a warm, subtle flavor that enhances the overall sweetness of the meringues.
• Pistachios: Provides a rich, nutty crunch and beautiful green color contrast to the white meringue.
• Fleur de Sel or Sea Salt Flakes: Offers a delicate saltiness that balances the sweetness and adds a gourmet touch.

• Parchment Paper: Essential for preventing sticking and creating a clean, easy release for delicate meringues.

Bake Meringues with Crisp Exteriors and Soft Centers

Step 1: Prepare the Oven

• Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F
• Position two racks evenly in the oven

Step 2: Transform the Sugar

• Line a baking tray with parchment paper
• Spread sugar evenly across the paper
• Leave a small border to prevent spillage
• Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges turn light brown
• Reduce oven temperature to 120°C/250°F

Step 3: Whip Egg Whites to Perfection

• Place egg whites in an electric mixer bowl
• Attach whisk attachment
• Whisk on high speed for one minute until frothy

Step 4: Create Glossy Meringue Base

• Reduce mixer speed to low
• Slowly add hot sugar to egg whites
• Use a large spoon initially
• Pour remaining sugar from parchment
• Add vanilla extract
• Whisk on high speed for 10 minutes
• Continue until mixture reaches room temperature
• Mixture should become thick and glossy

Step 5: Shape Dreamy Meringue Clouds

• Use two large spoons
• Scoop six large, rustic oval dollops on two parchment-lined baking trays
• Leave ample space between meringues for expansion

Step 6: Sprinkle Nutty Goodness

• Generously scatter chopped pistachios over each meringue

Step 7: Bake to Crispy Perfection

• Bake at 120°C/250°F for 1½ to 2 hours
• Maintain consistent low temperature
• Aim for crisp exteriors
• Centers should remain soft
• Avoid browning

Step 8: Final Flourish

• Sprinkle fleur de sel or sea salt flakes
• Allow meringues to cool completely

Serving Tip: Best enjoyed on the day of baking for maximum crispness and flavor.

How to Store Meringues Without Moisture

• Airtight Container Method: Seal completely cooled meringues in a sturdy, moisture-resistant container with a tight-fitting lid. Ensure zero air exposure to prevent softening and maintain crisp texture.
• Room Temperature Storage: Keep meringues in a dry, cool space away from direct sunlight or humidity. Place container on a stable kitchen shelf where temperature remains consistent, protecting delicate sugar structure.
• Silica Gel Packet Trick: Drop a food-grade silica gel packet inside the storage container to absorb excess moisture. This professional baker's secret prevents meringues from becoming sticky or losing their delicate crunch.

Creative Twists for Fancy Meringues

• Nutty Chocolate Crunch: Swap pistachios with chopped dark chocolate and roasted almonds for a rich, decadent flavor profile. Sprinkle cocoa powder on top before baking to enhance the chocolate intensity.
• Tropical Fruit Fusion: Incorporate finely chopped dried mango and coconut flakes instead of pistachios. Drizzle a light passion fruit glaze over the meringues after cooling for a vibrant, exotic taste.
• Lavender Honey Elegance: Mix dried lavender buds into the meringue mixture and replace salt with a gentle honey drizzle. Garnish with fresh lavender sprigs for an aromatic and sophisticated dessert experience.
• Spiced Caramel Crackle: Add ground cinnamon and a pinch of cardamom to the meringue. Top with crushed caramel pieces and a light sprinkle of sea salt for a warm, complex flavor combination.

Meringue Thoughts to End on a High

Silky pistachio meringues showcase Ina Garten’s culinary magic, blending sweet sophistication with nutty complexity.

Mediterranean-inspired desserts rarely achieve such delicate balance between crisp exterior and pillowy center.

Kitchen adventures reach new heights with this elegant French-style treat that whispers luxury and skill.

Salt crystals dance across meringue surfaces, creating unexpected flavor contrasts that delight sophisticated palates.

Culinary explorers will discover pure pleasure in these cloud-like confections that challenge traditional dessert expectations.

Rich pistachio notes and subtle sweetness invite passionate bakers to craft memorable moments – so snap that foodie photo, share this delectable recipe, and let passionate comments spark delicious conversations among fellow baking enthusiasts!

Tips for Whipping Egg Whites Right

• Warm Up Egg Whites: Let egg whites sit at room temperature for optimal volume and smooth texture before whipping.
• Monitor Sugar Caramelization: Watch the sugar carefully during baking to prevent burning, removing from oven when edges turn light golden brown.
• Slow Sugar Incorporation: Gradually stream hot sugar into egg whites to maintain meringue stability and prevent deflation.
• Seal the Oven: Keep oven door closed during entire baking process to preserve meringue structure and prevent collapse.
• Salt Finishing Touch: Sprinkle fleur de sel after baking to maintain salt's delicate crunch and intense flavor profile.

Ina Garten Salted Pistachio Meringues Recipe

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4.5 from 28 reviews

• Total Time: 2 hours
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s salted pistachio meringues offer a delightful dance of sweet and salty flavors. Light, crisp meringues adorned with crushed pistachios create an elegant dessert you’ll savor with pure culinary pleasure.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 9 extra-large egg whites, at room temperature
• 3 cups (1 pound 5 ounces) superfine or caster sugar

Flavoring and Garnish:

• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• ⅓ cup (50 grams) shelled, roasted, salted pistachios, roughly chopped
• Fleur de sel

Finishing Ingredient:

• Fleur de sel

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Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 200°C/400°F and position two racks evenly within the oven space.
2. Cover a baking tray with parchment paper, distributing sugar uniformly across the surface. Create a thin, even layer that barely touches the edges, leaving a small protective border to prevent overflow. Bake for 8-10 minutes until sugar edges develop a delicate golden hue.
3. Reduce oven temperature to 120°C/250°F after sugar caramelization. Simultaneously, transfer egg whites into an electric mixer with whisk attachment.
4. Activate mixer on high speed, whisking egg whites until they transform into a light, frothy texture.
5. Gradually incorporate the heated sugar into egg whites, initially using a large spoon, then carefully pouring the remaining sugar from the parchment paper.
6. Introduce vanilla extract and continue whisking at high speed for approximately 10 minutes. Monitor the mixture until it reaches room temperature and develops a thick, glossy consistency.
7. Utilize two large spoons to create six generously sized, rustic meringue dollops on each parchment-lined baking tray. Maintain adequate spacing between each meringue to accommodate potential expansion during baking.
8. Liberally scatter chopped pistachios across the surface of each meringue.
9. Place meringues in the oven, baking at 120°C/250°F for 1½ to 2 hours. Maintain a consistent low temperature to ensure crisp exteriors while preserving soft, marshmallow-like centers.
10. After baking, delicately sprinkle fleur de sel or sea salt flakes over the meringues. Allow them to cool completely at room temperature before serving.

Notes

• Rescued from potential kitchen disasters, room-temperature egg whites whip up beautifully, giving meringues their signature cloudlike texture.
• Vigilant sugar watching prevents burning, transforming your delicate creation from golden perfection to bitter disappointment in seconds.
• Gentle sugar pouring creates silky smooth meringues, with slow streams ensuring a stable and glossy mixture that’s Instagram-worthy.
• Oven door secrecy preserves the magical rise and delicate structure, protecting your meringues from sudden temperature drops that can deflate dreams.
• Final flourish of fleur de sel sprinkled after baking guarantees a delightful salty crunch that elevates the sweet meringue experience.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 of 12
• Calories: 230
• Sugar: 49.4g
• Sodium: 100mg
• Fat: 1.9g
• Saturated Fat: 5g
• Carbohydrates: 51.4g
• Fiber: 2g
• Protein: 3.6g
• Cholesterol: 0mg