Il Cucinologo
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Espresso Tiramisu

17/11/2023

Espresso Tiramisu is a variation of the classic Tiramisu that plays on the use of a strong, aromatic espresso coffee while keeping the other traditional ingredients. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

  • 3 very fresh eggs at room temperature (with yolks and whites separated)
  • 250g mascarpone
  • 100g granulated sugar
  • 300g ladyfingers
  • Espresso coffee as needed (about 2 cups)
  • Bitter cocoa powder for dusting
  • A pinch of salt

Preparation

  1. Prepare a strong espresso coffee and let it cool.
  2. Separate the yolks from the whites. Make sure there are no traces of yolk in the whites as this could prevent them from whipping to stiff peaks.
  3. Whip the yolks with half the sugar until you obtain a light and frothy mixture.
  4. Fold the mascarpone into the whipped yolks, mixing gently to avoid deflating the mixture.
  5. In a separate bowl, whip the egg whites to stiff peaks with a pinch of salt. When they start to become foamy, add the remaining sugar and continue whipping until you reach a firm and glossy consistency.
  6. Fold the whipped egg whites into the yolk and mascarpone mixture, doing so gently with bottom-to-top movements to maintain the lightness of the cream.
  7. Quickly dip the ladyfingers in the cold espresso, being careful not to soak them too much to prevent them from breaking.
  8. Arrange a layer of soaked ladyfingers on the bottom of a baking dish or suitable container.
  9. Spread half of the mascarpone cream over the layer of ladyfingers.
  10. Add a second layer of soaked ladyfingers and finish with the remaining mascarpone.
  11. Level the surface and refrigerate the Tiramisu for at least 2 hours before serving.
  12. Before serving, dust the bitter cocoa on top, sifting it through a sieve for a smooth, lump-free result.

Trivia

Although traditional Tiramisu calls for Marsala or another liqueur, the espresso version tends to leave it out to highlight the purity of the coffee aroma. It is important to use very fresh, high-quality eggs given their raw presence in the recipe. For an all-Italian twist, you could add a dusting of dark chocolate shavings between the layers to further enrich the flavor.