Zabaglione al Caffé Recipe on Food52 (2024)

Cardamom

by: mrslarkin

February3,2011

5

1 Ratings

  • Serves 3 or 4

Jump to Recipe

Author Notes

When I was little, my mom would make us “caffé col’uovo sbatutto” (coffee with beaten egg). It may sound gross, but it’s really delicious. In a coffee mug, she’d use a funky springy whisk to beat an egg yolk with a few teaspoons of sugar until very foamy, then pour in good strong coffee, and mix it up. We loved it. This recipe is inspired by that memory. —mrslarkin

Test Kitchen Notes

WHO: You know mrslarkin from her contest-winning scones and scone bread.
WHAT: A coffee-based custard to inspire dreams of Venice.
HOW: Combine egg yolks, sugar, and cardamom into a thick, pale yellow custard, then whisk in espresso for a treat that belongs in a piazza.
WHY WE LOVE IT: Thick and frothy, this simple mixture is quick to whip together into a dessert to appease both sweet and savory lovers alike. Either spoon it over pound cake or add it to strong coffee for a bittersweet end to an evening—or decadent wake up call. —The Editors

  • Test Kitchen-Approved
  • Your Best Recipes with 5 Ingredients or Fewer Contest Finalist

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • 4 large egg yolks
  • 4 tablespoonsgranulated sugar
  • Seeds of 3 to 4 cardamom pods, crushed
  • 2 half-eggshells full (about 2 ounces or 4 tablespoons) espresso or strong black coffee
Directions
  1. Bring 1 cup water to a simmer in a small saucepan.
  2. In a heat-safe bowl that is large enough to sit over your saucepan without touching the bottom, whisk the egg yolks, sugar, and cardamom until thick and pale yellow.
  3. Set your bowl over the saucepan, making sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the hot water, or you might make scrambled eggs. (A double boiler will also work well.) Add the espresso to the egg mixture. Continue whisking until the mixture is foamy and doubled or tripled in volume. Remove bowl from saucepan.
  4. Serve immediately over slices of cake, or spoon into pretty bowls and serve with lady fingers, biscotti, or tuiles. Or, pour some over a demitasse cup of espresso—that’s my favorite way.

Tags:

  • Egg
  • Cardamom
  • Dessert
Contest Entries
  • Your Best Recipe with Cardamom
  • Your Best Recipe with Coffee
  • Your Best Recipes with 5 Ingredients or Fewer

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Domenic Clarino

  • Adriana Giannini

  • Emily | Cinnamon&Citrus

  • Kukla

  • LeBec Fin

Popular on Food52

37 Reviews

Domenic C. December 19, 2023

Just curious…why the cardamon??

Adriana G. April 21, 2018

Mmm, like liquid tiramisu (minus the cardamom). Very popular in Northern Vietnam. Sounds delish.

Emily |. October 6, 2015

Oh and I threw in a cinnamon stick and removed it since I didn't have cardamom on hand to make this a "pantry dessert" :)

Emily |. October 6, 2015

Just made this (literally got home from work late, was looking for a quick dessert because it is my wedding anniversary and my husband was making a nice dinner and I wanted to contribute) - can be pulled together simply even on the fly and absolutely delicious and feels special! Thanks so much for this recipe.

Kukla April 10, 2015

Congratulations! This looks like an easy, but a very tasty and elegant dessert!

LeBec F. April 10, 2015

mrs.L, congrats! I loooove coffee and cardamom together.So smart of you to call for the cardamom seeds; they have such a lovely pungency! Plse tell me, does this taste like a crème anglaise but richer and without flour thickener? How long does it usually take you from start to finish?
And does it retain its volume when chilled? Last question- if you folded in whipped cream and froze it, would you pretty much have a semifreddo?

mrslarkin April 10, 2015

Hi LBF! Thank you! It's very similar to creme anglaise. It takes no time at all if you have all your ingredients prepped (i.e. make your espresso first and get your cake and/or cookies ready). It does not retain it's volume when chilled - at least I don't think so - I've never done that. It's meant to be eaten immediately. But if you fold in whipped cream and froze it, I think in that case it would be very much like a semifreddo, which sounds delicious!

ChefJune April 9, 2015

Oh boy! I so love Zabaglione/Sabayon, and also coffee flavored desserts. This is definitely going on my short list.

AntoniaJames April 9, 2015

The coffee + cardamom combo sounds marvelous. I've never put the two together. Looking forward to trying this! ;o)

Midge April 9, 2015

Oh wow, sounds so good. Congrats Liz!

drbabs April 9, 2015

Wow, congratulations on being a finalist! Hard choice this week! XO

mrslarkin April 9, 2015

Thanks, drbabs!! I agree, definitely a tough one.

testkitchenette April 16, 2011

Fantastic. Lovely memory sharing as well!

mrslarkin April 16, 2011

thanks, tk!

boulangere April 15, 2011

Love your coffee measure!

mrslarkin April 15, 2011

:)

dymnyno February 7, 2011

No I don't think it sounds gross!!!! Isn't eggnog made with raw eggs? This sounds very sophisticated. Your blue and white cup and saucer look gorgeous too!

mrslarkin February 7, 2011

Thanks so much, dymnyno!! (I love my cup and saucer, too. Thx!)

Lizthechef February 5, 2011

I love this recipe as well as your shot and covet that gorgeous cup!

mrslarkin February 5, 2011

Thanks, Liz! That's from my Spode Italian demitasse set. Love the blue and white.

coffeefoodwrite February 4, 2011

Hi mrs l,

could not find cardamom pods but found ground -- do you think that would work as a good substitute and if so, how much would you suggest? thx!

mrslarkin February 4, 2011

hmmm...not sure as I never buy ground cardamom, BUT I would probably start with 1/2 teaspoon ground. I think if you are able to smell the aroma of the spice when it's whisked in at step 2, you'll be good. Definitely keep looking for fresh pods in your travels - they are amazing.

coffeefoodwrite February 4, 2011

thx! ended up using about a fourth and it turned out great -- poured it over a nice espresso....decadent!

mrslarkin February 4, 2011

so great to hear!! now I'm craving an espresso and some more of this. :)

coffeefoodwrite February 3, 2011

wow! this looks amazing...can't wait to try! :-)

mrslarkin February 3, 2011

thanks cfwg! hey where have u been? we've missed u.

coffeefoodwrite February 4, 2011

I've been off finishing a writing project -- so glad to be back on a bit -- missed you guys too!

TheWimpyVegetarian February 3, 2011

This looks perfect to make tomorrow! Love it!

mrslarkin February 3, 2011

Thanks, ChezSuzanne! Let me know how it turns out!

Deb S. February 3, 2011

Super duper grown-up yum! I cannot wait to try this!

mrslarkin February 3, 2011

Thanks, Deb! Let me know if you make it!

drbabs February 3, 2011

nice!

mrslarkin February 3, 2011

thanks!

hardlikearmour February 3, 2011

Yum, mrslarkin. I'd be happy to eat this with a spoon!

mrslarkin February 3, 2011

Thanks, hla! Me too! :)

Zabaglione al Caffé Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

Why is my zabaglione not thickening? ›

Reasons: not cooked enough, cooked too quickly so egg doesn't thicken; egg overcooked and about to curdle; too much liquid flavouring.

What is caffè allo zabaione? ›

Saeco | Caffè 'Allo Zabaione, a unique coffee enjoyed in Bologna for centuries is a creamy and delicious mix of espresso and zabaione.

Which sauce is a fragile foam of egg yolks sugar and Marsala wine? ›

Zabaglione is a simple Italian dessert made of egg yolks, sugar, and Marsala wine.

Can you put a raw egg in coffee? ›

To make Swedish egg coffee, a raw egg is added to the coffee grounds before brewing the coffee, creating a potting soil-like mixture. Some diehard egg coffee lovers use the crushed eggshell as well, but that's optional. Adding the egg helps clarify the coffee, allowing the grounds to separate from the water easily.

How do you fix sauce that is not thickening? ›

Make a Slurry: Mix equal parts flour and water or other liquid together. Stir a good amount of the mixture into simmering sauce; cook for a few minutes, then add more until you have your desired consistency.

What are three other ways to thicken sauces? ›

Ways To Thicken Sauce
  • Tomato Paste. If your soup or stew is watery, adding tomato paste may help! ...
  • Arrowroot. You might prefer to avoid gluten in your recipes. ...
  • Flour. ...
  • Reduce Your Liquid. ...
  • Puréed Vegetables. ...
  • Egg Yolk. ...
  • Yogurt. ...
  • Rice.
Jul 15, 2022

Is it safe to eat zabaglione? ›

Food Safety

When dealing with egg yolks, safety is always a concern. Here is why this Zabaglione recipe is safe: Salmonella bacteria is killed when eggs reach 140 degrees for more than 3 minutes. For the custard to thicken, it will necessarily reach that temperature for that amount of time.

What is the difference between sabayon and zabaglione? ›

"Sabayon" is a French transliteration of the Italian "zabaglione," originally made with one tablespoon sugar and two tablespoons Marsala per egg yolk; French versions typically use white wine instead of the sweeter Marsala, and increase the liquid by 50% for a softer, lighter cream."

What does zabaglione mean in English? ›

(ˌzæbəˈljəʊnɪ ) noun. a light foamy dessert made of egg yolks, sugar, and marsala, whipped together and served warm in a glass. Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers.

What is a sabayon in English? ›

Meaning of sabayon in English

a French dessert (= sweet food)made from eggs, sugar, and sweet wine mixed together over heat and served warm or cold: I spooned the sabayon over the chopped fruit.

What is the flavor of zabaione? ›

Zabaione flavor is a flavor of the Italian dessert Zabaione. Zabaglione is a sweet creamy dessert made from egg yolks, sugar and nutmeg wine or liqueur. Its taste is rich, creamy, and has pronounced notes of vanilla and harmonious shades of alcohol.

What are the ingredients of zabaglione? ›

It is also the ideal last-minute dessert fix; all you need to make a fantastic zabaglione is egg yolks, wine, sugar, and some good arm muscle. The basic formula to serve four generously is 4 egg yolks, 1/4 cup wine (or a combination of wine and spirits), and 1/4 cup sugar.

What do eggshells do for coffee? ›

Egg shells are alkaline, which works to neutralize any acid, including those in coffee beans. Using egg shells while brewing your coffee will also reduce any bitter taste that it has as a result of the brewing method you choose or the roast of the beans.

Why drink raw eggs in the morning? ›

Choline is an essential nutrient for healthy brain and heart health. So when using eggs in the daily menu can help promote brain health and cardiovascular system. Besides, raw eggs are also rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, which help protect our eyes. It also reduces the risk of age-related diseases.

How do Norwegians make their coffee? ›

One of their most famous and traditional methods of brewing coffee is called kokekaffe and involves boiling water in a kettle, then adding ground coffee and letting it steep for four minutes before serving. This simple process results in a very light brew that is more viscous with a hint of fruity flavour.

Why are my eggs and sugar not thickening? ›

New, room temperature egg whites will whisk up faster than old, cold eggs. Make sure the bowl you whisk the egg whites in is free from any greasy residue. Make sure that no egg yolk is in with the egg whites. Egg yolks are very high in fat and will hinder the whisking process.

What to do if the consistency of a sauce is too thin or too weak? ›

If the consistency of a sauce is too thin or the flavor too weak, adjust it by gently simmering the sauce to reduce, thicken, and concentrate the flavors. Other alternatives include adding a thickening agent, cream, a swirl of butter, or a liaison of egg yolk and cream.

Why is my curd not thickening? ›

Trouble shooting: Most Lemon Curds are runny because they don't get cooked long enough, to 170 degrees F, to thicken the egg yolks – so cook on! If your curd isn't thickened after 10 minutes, or up to 15 if using a double boiler, then increase the temperature of the stove slightly – and don't stop whisking!

Why is my custard sauce not thickening? ›

The easy and sure way to thicken custard for trifle, tinned custard or homemade using powder, is, if it's tinned whisk in an egg yolk put it in a pan and bring to the boil whisking all the time. Keep whisking and boiling for 1 minute.

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