Preparation:
Quite an experience to eat - the apples are still warm and soft, the top is crunchy and icy. Great after a wok dinner.
Peel the apples, core and cut into wedges about 1/2 inch thick. Whip egg whites until frothy. Add flour and cornstarch and beat into a smooth batter.
Heat the oil to 375 F. Dip each apple wedge into egg white batter, place in hot oil and try, a few at a time, until crisp and brown. Place in a single layer on a warm service platter. Bring remaining ingredients to a boil in a saucepan and cook to a hard ball stage syrup; 280 F on candy thermometer. Pour over the apple wedges and serve at once, accompanied by a large crystal bowl of water containing lots of ice cubes. Each person picks up an apple wedge with a fork or small tongs and dips it into the ice water to crystallize the sugar and harden the top, which forms silk-like threads. |