No rest assured the name isn’t a dig at the English, but this Eton Mess is Pommy due to the inclusion of Pomegranates. I bought some Pomegranates – they make a wonderful table decoration thanks Colin Cowie, and of course my favourite part of it was eating them afterwards. Some of my lovely readers have steered me towards the easiest way to remove the Pomegranate seeds after I talked about Nigella’s way being possibly the messiest and least effective way of removing them. Just cut the Pomegranates in quarters and soak them in cold water for 10 minutes, bend back the skins and the seeds will be a cinch to pry off.
Originally Eton Mess was said to be a dessert served at Eton College’s Annual Prize giving celebration picnic event held at the end of May. Ice cream expert Robin Weir, spoke to Eton’s librarian who said that it was served in the 1930’s “sock shop” or tuck shop/school cafeteria. And like many legends from the past, there’s certainly a lot of stories, one of which is that the reason for its messy “squashed” appearance is due to a Labrador accidentally sitting on a picnic basket on the way to the picnic.
This is a really simple dessert really. Especially if you buy the meringue nests which of course I would have done but you know me, I love to make things from scratch (call it a sickness). I like a bit more meringue in my Eton Mess than the usual person so feel free to leave out a bit of the meringue content. I felt making meringue with only 1 egg white was not enough but 2 egg whites might possibly be overkill so use as much or as little as you like. I know that it’s usually made with strawberries but please allow me some poetic license.
And I know that here in Australia we are in the throes of Winter having just barely survived our first month but this is also for you lucky people in the Northern Hemisphere who are lucky enough to be basking in the warmth of Summer. For my fellow Antipodeons, perhaps this is something to look forward to come Spring in seven week’s time. I’m counting it down.
So tell me Dear Reader, what do you look forward to in Summer or are you currently enjoying about Summer if you happen to be in the Northern Hemisphere?
Pommy Eton Mess
An Original recipe by Not Quite Nigella
Serves 4
For meringue
- 2 egg whites
- 1/2 cup caster sugar
- 1 teaspoon cornflour
- 1/2 teaspoon white vinegar
Or instead of the above 4 ingredients, purchase 4-5 meringue nests
- 400ml/13.52 fl. oz thick cream (or 150ml thick cream mixed with 150ml thick yogurt)
- 2/3 cup POM wonderful juice
- 3 tablespoons white sugar
- Seeds from 1/2 a Pomegranate
1. Preheat oven to 100c/212F. Beat egg whites until soft peaks form in a clean bowl with a clean whisk. Add the sugar in 3-4 lots and beat until stiff peaks form. Using a metal spoon, fold in the cornflour and vinegar and spoon onto a lined baking sheet in a rough rectangle (it gets broken up into pieces so the shape doesn’t really matter). Bake in oven for 60 minutes.
The Pomegranate syrup
2. Meanwhile reduce the Pomegranate juice. In a small saucepan, place Pomegranate juice and 2 tablespoons of sugar and simmer for 5-7 minutes until reduced in volume by half. You should get about 1/3 of cup of wonderfully delectable Pomegranate syrup. Cool.
3. When the meringue and syrup has cooled, crumble the meringue into rough pieces. Whip the cream and fold the crumbled meringue, Pomegranate seeds and syrup until just combined and serve immediately.
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28 Comments | Add your own
Looks great! I love the simplicity of this dessert, and when done well, can be so tasty and not sickly sweet at all, despite all that meringue
I’d probably go with the option of purchasing the meringue nests hehehe! I’m such a slob… but these look really great! Where did you get the red doilies?
Oohh! The look beautiful! I love the glasses too. Are they the Royal Doulton ones?
Damn I look forward to trying this when this terrible thing called winter finishes!
i love pomegranates,must try this recipe…i like your red placemat….
I have been having crazy seasonal envy for summer at the moment. All I want are cute dresses and picnics! Using pomegranate is a beautiful idea.
pomegranates are so pretty, but i just love to eat them one ruby jewel at a time; although i have seen some recipes for salads with a pomegranate dressing that look lovely.
Instead of eton mess, i would prob just prebuy those nests, cream them up and top with fruit, just so its a bit tidier.
In summer i am looking forward to going to the beach once a week with my toddler, not having to rug us up just to go outside.
Wow these look sooo dedadent and luscious…pomegranate seeds are so sexy! haha!
I’m already enjoying summer…freaking long daylight hours! YES!
It looks so luscious! Great colours – would love to try it
What a beautiful mess! lol!
What a lovely looking dessert, the picture is beautiful.I love pomegranates;they really look pretty in desserts . Your dessert sounds so yummy too!
A perfect summer 4th of July day today! Backyard BBQ at my sisters. This is such a beautiful dessert. We only have Pomegranates around Christmas.
That’s so beautiful! I like the Stephanie Alexander method of removing pomegranate seeds. Just cut in half, then prise out seeds, don’t worry if pith attached, and drop into bowl of cold water. The pith floats and can be removed before draining the rest of the seeds.
Oh, and I’m so looking forward to wearing Havaianas again in summer
I’ve never tasted eton mess but the name always amuses – Strangely enough although it is a summery dessert there is something wintery about the rich ruby pomegranate!
LOVE eton mess, it’s so simple but so enjoyable. Never would have thought to do it with pomegranate, it looks so pretty!
LOL – clever pun. Your presentation of this dessert is very elegant – hardly approriate to be called a mess! Thanks for the tips on removing pomegrante seeds – it’s always been a vexed issue for me.
YUM! I bought a pomegranate recently and couldn’t decide what to do with it so I ended up ending some of it chucking the rest away! What a waste!
OK, I made no sense! I ended up EATING some, not ending!
Cream, meringue and any type of fruit, I’m THERE! I suppose the antioxidants in the pomegranite would offset any damage done by the cream and sugar!
I am not the biggest fan of Eton Mess but with pomegranate I think I would be tempted to give it another try!
Hi Y-Thanks! Yes it is so simple yet the look of the white and red is so effective
Hi Trisha -Fair enough! I can’t say that I blame you at all (and it makes it much easier)
I bought it from
House.
Hi romaverona-Thankyou so much! Ahh yes they are actually! What an eagle eye and good taste you have
Hi Bill -Yes I can’t believe we have 7 weeks to go!
Hi jane-Yes they’re delicious! Thankyou!
Hi Lisa-Me too! It’s not fair is it! I love dresses and picnics and everything is so much easier! Thankyou
Hi Tara-Hehe I must admit I do eat them like that too
Yes it’s great as a salad dressing too! 
Do you mean like a pavlova? Yes the multiple layers are so time consuming!
Hi Sophia-Aww you lucky thing you! And yes aren’t the seeds so pretty and sexy! Like jewels (which I love)
Hi Anita-Thankyou so much!
Hi Ellie-Hehe thanks!
Hi yaellian-Thankyou so much! They are aren’t they/ Like gorgeous little jewels
Hi Barbara-Aww I’m so envious! What a great time you’ll have basking in the sun! Thankyou
Oh really? We’re starting to have them more around the year nowadays 
Hi shaz-Thankyou so much! Yes I’ve heard that is the best way. I have to say Nigella’s way sounds like lots of fun but is rather messy! OH yes I’ve switched to ballet flats but I love thongs!
Hi Johanna-I know, isn’t it a funny name! It’s up there with Spotted Dick etc. Yes it loks like snow doesn’t it!
Hi Steph-It is and so transportable which is good too! Thankyou!
Hi Cakelaw-Thanks!
I love those glasses so I thought that serving them in those would do it justice as it’s a really nice dessert. You’re welcome! I have my readers to thank for that 
Hi Gab-Oh no! WHat a shame!
Ah well there’s always a Pommy mess if you are in the mood 
Hi Moya-I love meringues and fruit too, I think because fruit here is never sweet enough for me! Ah yes I like your thinking!
Hi Meg-Ahh yes, plus Pomegranates are good for you no?
i’ve seen some messy eton messes, and your presentation here is anything but. i love your use for pomegranate–very nice indeed.
Ooh, I’ve never heard of this dessert before. I’m a sucker for anything meringue though so I’ll have to try it sometime.
It’s technically summer where I am now but it’s been kind of cold and rainy and awful…feels more like April than July (more like October than January for you?) Basically right now I am looking forward to moving to New York so I can spend the rest of my summer in relatively normal summer weather. And summer in New York is one of my favorite kinds of summer.
This looks incredible! Thanks for the post.
I just fell in love with your etons! They are so lovely, and I have no doubt they’re delicious. Since it’s now summer here, I look forward to the bounty of fresh berries and my terrace garden thriving
What a pretty dessert and a great idea to use pomegranate! In our area (East Coast US) it has been the coolest weather I can ever remember for the 4th of July weekend but very nice for Saturday itself.
How did we miss your recipe over the holiday? We were inspired to do our version after seeing this one on Food Network. The pom additions sounds nice.
Hi grace-Aww thankyou darlin! You are too sweet.
Hi anna-It’s a nice and easy one if you buy the meringues
Oh you’re moving to NY. How very exciting! 
I’d
definitely look forward to that if I were you!
Hi Jenny-Thankyou so much!
Hi Lisa-Hehe thankyou!
Aww yes berries are such a great thing to look forward to-lucky you! 
Hi 5 Star Foodie-Thankyou! Ahh this global warming stuff has really messed up with the weather hasn’t it! Hope you had a great 4th of July
Hi The Duo Dishes-Hehe I think you were busy having a marvellous celebration! Thankyou
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