Espumilla is a traditional Ecuadorian dessert which consists of soft meringue resembling ice cream. It is made with egg whites, sugar and fruit puree. The egg whites are whipped until light and fluffy before the sugar is added while still being whipped. The fruit puree is then folded in and the mixture is chilled. It is served chilled or at room temperature.
The egg whites give espumilla is lightness while the sugar not only adds sweetness but stabilizes the eggs into a semi solid consistency and gives it an attractive glossiness. Unlike traditional meringue it is not baked.
Espumilla is eaten in other parts of South America such as Colombia and Peru but Ecuadorian espumilla is the only one that is served raw. Despite this, it is still stable enough to not melt on hot days.
The most common flavor is guava, which also gives the espumila its familiar pink color. Other popular fruit flavors are blackberry and banana but guava is superb due to its high level of pectin which results in the perfect foamy texture without needing to add additional ingredients like gelatin.
Origin & Cultural Significance
It is believed that Ecuadorian espumilla originated in the early 1900’s. Still very popular today, it can be found sold by street vendors in markets, busy plazas and outside of schools.
Ecuadorian Espumilla Recipe
Espumilla is a traditional Ecuadorian dessert. It is a soft meringue resembling ice cream. It consists of egg whites, sugar and fruit puree.
Ingredients
- Guavas (very ripe) - 8
- Sugar- 1-1/2 cups
- Egg whites - 2
- Arrope or berry syrup
- Sprinkles and/or coconut flakes
Instructions
- Peel the guavas with a vegetable peeler.
- Remove the seeds and keep the meaty parts.
- Put the guava pieces in a large bowl, mix with the sugar and mash with a fork until everything is pureed.
- Alternatively, cut the guavas in halves, place them in the blender and blend until it is finely pureed.
- Strain the puree and use an electric mixer to mix in the sugar.
- Add the egg whites to the guava and sugar puree, mix using the electric mixer until the texture is stiff and creamy
- Add toppings and serve immediately.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 263Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 72mgCarbohydrates: 50gFiber: 13gSugar: 32gProtein: 7g
Nutrition is provided and calculated by Nutritionix. It is for general information purposes and is only a rough estimation.