This recipe is from the Mindfood website... I
tried it, I would make it
differently if I did it again. Notably, it has a strong honey flavour,
so I would use less honey or perhaps a really mild one (I used white
rata) and perhaps increase the amount of rosewater.... I also made it
without that rice paper, but used icing sugar/cornflour to combat the
slight tackiness of the crust... it's incredibly sticky. Would be hard
without a stand cake-mixer!
http://www.mindfood.com/at-recipe-craisin-pistachio-nougat.seo
Makes approx. 36 pieces
4 sheets edible rice paper
2 1/4 cups caster sugar
1/2 cup liquid glucose
⅓ cup honey
2 eggwhites
1 cup almond kernels
1 cup pistachio kernels
1 cup craisins (dried cranberries)
2 tsp rose water (available at Khyber Spice, Sandringham Rd)
Grease
and line a 30cm x 20cm lamington pan with baking paper. Cover base with
rice paper. Place sugar, glucose, honey and 2 tbsp water in a
heavy-based saucepan. Stir over a low heat for approximately 10 minutes
or until glucose and sugar dissolves and mixture comes to the boil.
Simmer without stirring for 10 minutes or until mixture reaches 164°C on
a candy thermometer or is at the ‘hard crack’ stage.
Using
an electric mixer, beat egg whites until stiff. With mixer motor
running, add the syrup in a slow steady stream. Continue beating for 1
minute or until well combined. Stir in nuts, cranberries and rose water.
Spoon into prepared pan and spread evenly. Cover with remaining rice
paper.
Set
aside to cool and set. When set, remove from pan and cut into squares
or strips. For gifts, wrap pieces individually in cellophane. Store in
an airtight container in a cool place. Do not refrigerate nougat as it
will become sticky.
Note:
To tell if your mixture has reached the ‘hard crack’ stage, place a
little cold water into a small bowl. Place in freezer for 10 minutes.
Drop a small amount of toffee mixture into the cold water. If the
mixture becomes very hard and you are able to snap in half then the
mixture is ready to use.