French · dessert
Île Flottante
Île Flottante reads sweetness 7.3, richness 5.7 and floral 4.5 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a French dessert, about 45 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.
The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10
- Umami & Savory — 3.8 / 10
- Sweet & Fruity — 7.6 / 10
- Sour & Bright — 0.0 / 10
- Bitter & Earthy — 1.2 / 10
- Rich & Fat — 7.1 / 10
- Aromatic & Spice — 4.5 / 10
The measured notes (of 18)
Sweetness 7.3 · Richness 5.7 · Floral 4.5 · Nutty 4.4 · Umami 3.7 · Fruity 1.1 · Earthy 1.1 · Salinity 0.7 · Bitterness 0.6
What's in it (7)
- 4 egg whites
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 4 egg yolks
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 vanilla bean, split
- 1/2 cup sugar and 3 tbsp water (for caramel)
- 3 tbsp toasted almond flakes
Time & effort: about 45 min (20 min active) · effort: easy
Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 310.7 kcal, 19.2 g protein, 6.5 g fat, 39.4 g carbs
Dietary: Contains meat · Contains seafood · Contains dairy — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.
How it's cooked (3 steps)
- Whip egg whites with sugar to stiff glossy peaks and poach spoonfuls in simmering milk to form soft meringue islands.
- Make a classic vanilla crème anglaise from the egg yolks and warm milk.
- Float the meringues on the custard and drizzle over caramel; scatter toasted almonds on top.
Dishes with a similar flavor shape
- Quindim — Brazilian
- Barazek (Sesame and Pistachio Wafers) — Syrian
- Bastani Sonnati (Saffron and Rosewater Ice Cream) — Persian
- Cendol (Malaysian Shaved Ice Dessert) — Malaysian
- Crème Brûlée — French
Keep reading: what sweetness, richness, floral mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.
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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.