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How to succeed in making sabayon (syllabub)

How to succeed in making sabayon (syllabub)
A sabayon is a delicious and delicate preparation based on egg yolks and sugar, with a liquid added (wine, alcohol, fruit juice, etc), which is then whipped in a bain-marie until it is both light and smooth.

Usually sabayon is sweet (syllabub), but you can make it savoury, in which case there is only egg yolk, salt, and the chosen liquid, which could be stock, reduced wine, roasting juices, etc...

This recipe is for a sweet sabayon, using just two egg yolks. You will need to adapt quantities according to your needs, or your recipe.
953 K 5× 3.6/5 (204 reviews)
Grade this recipe:
duree20 min. difficultéAverage prix0.90 € pour combien115 g ingredients4 Ingredients
Keywords:
Last modified on: November 12th 2017
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For 115 g, you will need:
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Times for this recipe
Preparation: 8 min.
Cooking: 10 min.
All in all: 20 min.
When should you start or finish this recipe?
If you start now, at , you will finish around : ?.Change start time
To finish around 7pm, you'll need to have started before: .Change end time

Step by step recipe

Stage 1 - ⌛ 5 min.
How to succeed in making sabayon (syllabub) : Stage 1
Put in a container that can go over a bain-marie, 2 egg yolks and 30 g caster sugar.

Without delay, beat until mixture whitens.
Stage 2
How to succeed in making sabayon (syllabub) : Stage 2
This whitening of the mixture happens because by beating, you incorporate thousands of tiny air bubbles into it.
Stage 3 - ⌛ 3 min.
How to succeed in making sabayon (syllabub) : Stage 3
Add 6 tablespoons sweet white wine to mixture (or sweet wine, fruit juice, coffee, etc.) and 1 pinch flour, mix thoroughly.

Please note, this pinch of flour is vital to the success of the sabayon. While over the bain-marie, this will facilitate the blending of the mixture: an essential knack to make your sabayon work every time (or almost), so you do not finish up with an omelette...

This is the first "secret" of success.
Stage 4 - ⌛ 10 min.
How to succeed in making sabayon (syllabub) : Stage 4
Put mixture in the bain-marie, and begin beating.

The bain-marie is the second "secret" of success, you need the temperature of the mixture to rise gradually.

You need to beat constantly until obtaining the shiny and smooth mixture desired.
Stage 5
How to succeed in making sabayon (syllabub) : Stage 5
You can use an electric whisk, in which case do not beat too fast, but nothing is better than a simple hand whisk, you will keep operations under control.
Stage 6
How to succeed in making sabayon (syllabub) : Stage 6
After few minutes, the mixture will begin to foam and thicken.
Stage 7
How to succeed in making sabayon (syllabub) : Stage 7
Stop when you like, it is necessary to arrive at a good compromise: quite shiny and very smooth... It's an absolute delight!
Remarks
The two important points for making a good sabayon are: a pinch of flour (for easier blending) and a bain-marie (gradual rise in temperature).

Syllabub is often poured over a dessert, but you can also serve it plain in a small cup (warmed beforehand) instead of coffee or tea.

Syllabub is best served warm, on something which should be neither too hot ( not straight from the oven), nor too cold (not straight from the fridge).

This recipe is for a sweet syllabub but it can also be made savoury (see above). You will notice that in this case, because of the absence of sugar, the syllabub thickens much more quickly.
Keeping: 1 or 2 minutes, no longer.
Source: Home made, but I am deeply grateful to Hervé This for his explanations of how syllabub works and the essential role played by the pinch of flour.
Nutritional information
Proteins (gr)Carbohydrates (gr)Fats (gr)Energy value (in k-calories)Energy value (in k-joules)
Whole recipe6 RDI=3 %40 RDI=4 %10 RDI=2 %310 RDI=20 %1,300 RDI: 20 %
Per 100 g4 RDI=2 %30 RDI=3 %7 RDI=1 %190 RDI=10 %810 RDI: 10 %
The % figures are calculated in relation to the Recommended Dietary Intake , or RDI of 2,000 k-calories (or 8,400 k-joules) per day for a woman
Possible allergens in this recipe: egg, Sulfites, Gluten
How much will it cost?
  • For 115 g : 0.90 €

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Note: Be careful, these prices are only an estimate, you can consult the table of prices by ingredients used for this estimate.
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This recipe uses (among others)
Caster sugar
Caster sugar

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Sweet white wine
Sweet white wine

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Egg yolk
Egg yolk

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Flour
Flour

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The 5 comments already posted on this recipe
  • No, it is not a whipped cream, at all, there is no cream in this recipe.
    Posted by jh december 1st 2015 at 12:04 n° 5
  • You do not use flour, it is a whipped cream ... Whipped by hand adding flour is a. Lazy and b. Gross in texture. you must whip eggs until 180°. And whip until room temperature using either an electric mixture or by hand.
    Posted by Anonymous november 30th 2015 at 05:25 n° 4
  • It's a good idea to use Sambuca, like all sweet liquor (like amaretto, ...) it will certainly make a very good result. If you try it, come back to tell us what you've got?
    Posted by jh may 16th 2011 at 07:15 n° 3
  • I thank you sharing for your secrets! Seattle restaurant, 13 Coins served this using Sambuca as the alcohol. Has anyone else a similar experience? I can't wait to experiment.. :)
    Posted by Biggie may 16th 2011 at 06:11 n° 2
  • Hi there, I have made this according to directions, and it worked like a charm! Thank you for rescuing me from zabajone disasters - merci beaucoup.
    Posted by Walter Apile march 25th 2009 at 16:53 n° 1

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