Page 251 - Pie It Forward: Pies, Tarts, Tortes, Galettes, and Other Pastries Reinvented

Coconut Birds’ Nests

MAKES ABOUT 15

, . I
could not, I would not, allow a shred of the tropical stuff to touch my
lips. I can be such an idiot. As it turns out, I like coconut very much.
Whatever the 1970s incarnation was that had me cringing since
childhood must have been a culinary doozy, because there’s very

little made with coconut that I won’t eat now.
This particular nest of chewy, crunchy, coconutty happiness is my
particular favorite.

FOR THE COCONUT NESTS
egg whites 4
sweetened shredded coconut 3½ cups 315 g

sugar ¾ cup 150 g

vanilla extract 1 teaspoon 5 ml
salt ½ teaspoon 3 g

FOR THE CARAMEL
sugar 1 cup 200 g

lemon juice 1 squirt
salt 1 teaspoon 6 g

heavy cream ½ cup 120 ml
unsalted butter 2 tablespoons 28 g

FOR THE GANACHE
heavy cream ½ cup 120 ml

unsalted butter 2 tablespoons 28 g
corn syrup 1 tablespoon 15 ml

bittersweet chocolate,
chopped 8 ounces 225 g
salt pinch

Procedure for the coconut nests