Indulge in the elegant charm of the Isle Flottante from Ina Garten, a Barefoot Contessa twist on the classic French Floating Island dessert. This sophisticated recipe combines ethereal poached meringue "islands" floating atop a velvety crème anglaise, made from rich egg yolks, whole milk, and infused with fragrant vanilla. Topped with a luscious drizzle of caramel sauce, a dusting of powdered sugar, and optional toasted almonds for crunch, this show-stopping dessert is as beautiful as it is delicious. Perfect for dinner parties or any special occasion, this recipe brings a touch of Parisian café style to your table. Ready in just an hour, it’s a deceptively simple way to impress your guests with a timeless dessert.
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1. Begin by preparing the crème anglaise. Heat the milk in a medium saucepan over medium heat. If using a vanilla bean, split it lengthwise, scrape out the seeds, and add both the seeds and pod to the milk. Heat until it just comes to a simmer, then remove the vanilla pod and set aside.
2. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg yolks and sugar until the mixture becomes pale and thick. Gradually add the hot milk to the egg yolks while whisking constantly to temper the eggs.
3. Pour the mixture back into the saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. Do not let it boil. Strain the crème anglaise into a clean bowl and chill in the refrigerator.
4. To make the meringue, beat the egg whites with an electric mixer at medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add the sugar and vanilla extract, and continue beating until the meringue is glossy and forms stiff peaks.
5. Heat a large wide saucepan or deep skillet filled with about 2 inches of water to a gentle simmer. Use two large spoons to form oval-shaped quenelles of meringue. Gently lower them into the simmering water and poach for about 1-2 minutes on each side, flipping carefully. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a paper towel-lined tray.
6. To assemble, ladle the chilled crème anglaise into serving bowls or plates. Place one or two poached meringue islands on top.
7. Drizzle with caramel sauce, sprinkle powdered sugar, and optionally add sliced almonds for garnish. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Serving size | (2033.4g) |
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Amount per serving | % Daily Value* |
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Calories | 3672.2 |
Total Fat 104.7g | 0% |
Saturated Fat 50.2g | 0% |
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.3g | |
Cholesterol 1336.1mg | 0% |
Sodium 1928.7mg | 0% |
Total Carbohydrate 627.6g | 0% |
Dietary Fiber 1.8g | 0% |
Total Sugars 620.3g | |
Protein 76.1g | 0% |
Vitamin D 552.0IU | 0% |
Calcium 1536.3mg | 0% |
Iron 3.7mg | 0% |
Potassium 2204.7mg | 0% |
Source of Calories