Zabaione facts for kids
A glass of zabaglione
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| Alternative names | Zabaglione, zabajone, sabayon, Coffee Zabaglione, Coffee Zabaglione, Zabaglione al Caffé |
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| Course | Dessert |
| Place of origin | Italy |
| Region or state | Piedmont |
| Main ingredients | Egg yolks, sugar, a sweet wine |
Zabaione (also called zabaglione) is a delicious Italian dessert. It can also be served as a drink. This sweet treat is made with egg yolks, sugar, and a sweet wine. Often, wines like Moscato d'Asti or Marsala wine are used.
Sometimes, other spirits like cognac are added. The dessert version is a light, fluffy custard. It is whipped until it has lots of air. In the United States, zabaione is often served with fresh fruits. These can include strawberries, blueberries, or peaches. It is usually served in a fancy glass. In France, this dessert is known as sabayon.
Zabaione is also very popular in other countries. In Argentina and Uruguay, it is called sambayón. It's even a popular ice cream flavor there! In Colombia, it's known as sabajón. Venezuela has a similar egg-based drink called ponche crema. People usually drink this during Christmas.
History of Zabaione
The history of this Italian dessert goes back a long time. Some stories say it started in the late 1400s. A recipe for Zabaglione was found in an old book from Naples.
In Tuscany, people say zabaione has been famous since the 1500s. It was very popular with Catherine de' Medici, a powerful queen. In another part of Italy called Piedmont, it is said the dessert was named Sambayon. This was to honor a saint named Pasquale Baylon.
Another story comes from Emilia-Romagna. It says the dessert was named in 1471 after a soldier named Giovanni Baglioni. His men were looking for food and only found eggs, honey, white wine, and herbs. So, they mixed them together and created this dish! This shows how new recipes can come from needing to be creative.
How to Make Zabaione
Classic zabaione is made using raw egg yolks. These are cooked gently in a bain-marie. A bain-marie is like a warm water bath. This helps the eggs cook slowly without scrambling. It is most often served with Marsala wine. However, other sweet wines can be used instead.
Sometimes, beaten egg whites (called meringue) are added. Whipped cream can also be mixed in. When zabaione is made for children, the wine is often left out. This makes it a different kind of dessert. It might then be flavored with a little bit of espresso coffee. This version is often called uovo sbattuto.
Zabaione in French Cooking
The French adopted the zabaione recipe in the 1800s. They called it sabayon. It became a popular dessert cream in French cooking. By the 1900s, the name sabayon was also used for other dishes. These included savory broths and sauces made with egg yolks.
