Zabaglione – Italian dessert recipe

Zabaglione is a wonderful, rich custard flavoured with Marsala. In Italy it can be served on its own as a dessert, garnished with berries or chocolate shavings, used to dip biscotti into or layered in other desserts like the famous Tiramisu.

Zabaglione takes quite a bit of whisking to bring it to perfection, but its few ingredients means that it can be put together from store cupboard standbys as a last minute dessert, when you suddenly have a longing for something rich and indulgent or just want something delicious to dip some biscotti into after a good meal.

The authentic alcoholic flavouring is Marsala, but you can use other sweet fortified wines, such as port or Madeira if you prefer, or else leave the wine out altogether if you are making this for children.

Recipe for Zabaglione

Ingredients for six people
6 egg yolks
6 tablespoons sugar
125ml / ½ cup Marsala

Put the egg yolks into the top half of a double boiler, or use a bowl over a pan of simmering water, making sure that the water does not touch the base of the bowl.
Beat the eggs yolks over the heat until fluffy. Keep beating as you add the sugar.
Add the Marsala still beating.
Keep whisking constantly over the heat until the zabaglione thickens. It should triple in volume and become a pale creamy colour. Don’t let it boil.
When it has thickened, remove it from the heat and keep whisking for another two minutes.
Serve it warm straight away spooned into individual glasses, or cool for 15 minutes and then fold in a cup of whipped cream and serve with berries.

Variations
You can flavour your zabaglione with the addition of spices or other flavourings if you like.
Try ½ teaspoon of cinnamon, 1 teaspoon of lemon zest, or 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract for subtly different flavours.
You can also use zabaglione as a special custard or sauce to serve with another dessert, in which case remove the bowl from the heat as soon as it has reached the consistency you desire.

Want to taste other delicious Italian deserts? Visit some of the best Italian restaurants in Nottingham and indulge in a wonderful evening out.