New Zealand and Australia have been arguing about who invented it since the 1930s. The pavlova itself is uninvolved in this dispute and continues to be a very good dessert.
About Pavlova
New Zealand's fiercely claimed national dessert (disputed equally fiercely by Australia): a crisp meringue shell with a marshmallow interior piled with freshly whipped cream, passionfruit, kiwifruit and strawberry; the passionfruit curd dripping down the sides is the defining image of every New Zealand Christmas lunch; the origin story features ballerina Anna Pavlova's 1926 tour.
The Dispute
The pavlova is claimed by both New Zealand and Australia, and the argument over who invented it has run for generations. Named for the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova, who toured both countries, it appeared in recipe books in the region in the early twentieth century. Food historians point to an early New Zealand recipe, but the debate is cultural rather than truly resolvable.
βThe pavlova is claimed by both New Zealand and Australia, and the argument over who invented it has run for generations.β
Pavlova, New Zealand
The Dessert
Whoever invented it, the pavlova is a large meringue with a crisp shell and a soft, marshmallow-like centre, piled with whipped cream and fruit. Passionfruit is essential, its tart pulp cutting the sweetness, joined by kiwifruit and berries. The contrast of crisp, soft and cool is the whole appeal.
The Marshmallow Centre
The defining feature of a proper pavlova is that soft, marshmallow interior beneath the crisp crust, achieved by baking the meringue low and slow with a little acid and cornflour in the mix. A pavlova set firm all the way through has been baked too hot. Getting that centre right is the test of the cook.
A Southern Summer
In New Zealand, Christmas falls in summer, and the pavlova, cool and laden with ripe fruit, suits the season perfectly. It is the dessert that ends the festive lunch, assembled at the last minute so the meringue stays crisp under the cream. More than the rivalry, it is the taste of a Southern Hemisphere summer.
βIn New Zealand, Christmas falls in summer, and the pavlova, cool and laden with ripe fruit, suits the season perfectly.β
