Farofias: Portuguese floating islands

Portugal

Portugal's version of floating islands — poached meringue clouds floating on a pool of crème anglaise, finished with a caramel drizzle. The technique is simpler than French îles flottantes but no less precise: the meringue must be stiffer to hold its shape during poaching, the milk used for poaching flavours the crème anglaise that follows, and the caramel must be cooked to a dark amber before cooling and drizzling. Farofias is a convent sweet in origin — appearing in the same tradition as ovos moles and toucinho do céu — and the egg-yolk richness of the custard against the airiness of the meringue represents the duality of that tradition: restraint (the meringue) and excess (the custard).

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