Cardamom, Wattle Seeds Macarons with Orange Filling

For the Orange Filling, recipe from Gérard Mulot

• 2 eggs
• 1 egg yolk
• 3 oz butter
• 2 1/3 oz fine sugar
• Juice of 3 oranges + Zest of 1 orange
• 0.5 oz cornstarch

Steps:

• Squeeze the juice of 3 oranges and grate finely the zest of one. Place them in a pot with the butter and half of the sugar, and bring to a boil.
• In a large bowl, beat together the eggs, egg yolk, cornstarch and the rest of the sugar.
• Without ceasing to stir, pour slowly the hot orange juice, then add the rest and transfer to the pot again. Bring to a boil again and cook for 2 to 3 mns while stirring.
• Transfer the cream to a bowl placed in a container full of iced water. Cover with a plastic wrap and place in the fridge until colder.

For the Cardamom Meringue (for about 15 small macarons), my own recipe

• 2 egg whites (2 oz), at room temperature
• 3.5 oz confectioner’s sugar, sifted
• 2 oz almond flour, sifted
• 1 oz fine sugar
• 1/2 tsp cardamom powder
• 3 tsp Wattle seeds (optional)
• A few drops of yellow and red coloring
• 1/8 tsp cream of tartar

Steps:

• Sift the almond flour and confectioner’s sugar. Add the sifted cardamom powder and Wattle seeds, if using. Keep.
• Place the egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer. Start to mix on medium speed with 1/2 Tbsp fine sugar and the cream of tartar. Once slightly foamy, increase the speed. After a few mns, when they are almost firm, add the rest of the sugar, and a few drops of coloring. The egg whites should form nice firm peaks. Keep.
• Add the dry ingredients to the egg whites in two or three times, making sure you fold them in carefully (Make circular movements using a rubber spatula). Once the preparation homogeneous, it is ready. Do not overwork the meringue batter.
• On one (or more) baking sheets, place a Silpat or a piece of parchment paper. With a decoration bag, pipe small amounts of batter 1 inch in diameter, 1 inch apart. Leave to rest for 1 hour.
• Preheat your oven at 320 F.
• Place the baking sheet in the oven and cook for about 12 to 13 mns, according to the macaron size (if you make bigger ones, increase the cooking time). After 7 to 8 mns, crack the oven door open (keep it open inserting a wooden spoon for example) and reduce the heat to 290 F.
• Take the macarons out of the oven (check whether they are cooked by touching them lightly) and pour a thin stream of water under the Silpat to create some steam. The macarons will be easier to remove. Wait a little before removing them from the Silpat (use a flexible spatula if they stick). Let them cool down on racks before assembling.
• Once the filling cold — but not at fridge temperature — pipe some on one macaron half and stick the other half on top.

Variation with Matcha Tea and Chocolate Ganache:

Matcha Tea and Chocolate Macarons

For the Chocolate Ganache

• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 5 1/3 oz dark chocolate, 65 % cocoa

Steps:

• Grate the chocolate and place it in a bowl.
• Heat the cream and bring to a simmer. Stop and pour over the chocolate. Let sit for 1 mn, then mix together to get a smooth paste. Let cool before using.

To make the Matcha tea macarons, replace the cardamom with theMatcha tea powder and add a few drops of green coloring instead of red and yellow.

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