DIETERS' PEPPERMINT DELIGHT CHOCOLATE MOUSSE, no-bake, no dairy unless wanted, butter-free, cream optional

A light, lovely chocolate mousse with mint that's healthier than most... 

first posted Oct 2017

Smooth silky chocolate mint mousse, no egg yolks/butter, cream optional
'Hide it from the others; it's that good!' Luxurious; lovely & creamy' Tasters

photo 26.10.17 

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CONTAINS UNCOOKED EGG WHITE

Rich, creamy Chocolate mousse is a perennial favourite but does come with lashings of guilt.   

67goingon50's scrumptious creamy version is almost healthy by contrast -- it has no egg yolks or butter and the cream is optional.  Apart from a layer of mint, which can be kept to a minimum, there's only a small amount of added sugar.   

It's one of the most popular of 67's Skinny Indulgences and many prefer it to the fat and cholesterol laden original.    

That doesn't mean the Mousse is healthy -- there's too much chocolate for that -- but it does mean you get great taste and texture for fewer than usual of the bad things.  It's best served in small portions, maybe with shortbread thins.   

The recipe is adapted from British chocolatier and cocoa grower, Hotel Chocolate.   

For family, a 50-50 mix of dark and milk chocolate is best; for adults, stick to dark or bittersweet. 

Cost: around £6 (Jan 24); more if using artisan chocolate
Feeds: 6'ish (double recipe for a crowd)

Ingred:
   
    150gm dark, OR half dark, half milk, cooking chocolate (70%+ recommended)* 
    1 tsp peppermint extract
     
     6 egg whites (freeze yolks for Christmas custards & bread puddings) 
     pinch of salt
     1/4 tsp lemon juice

     35g caster or soft brown sugar

     1 box mint matchsticks OR if something more sophisticated is needed,  good quality chocolate mints **. (OR replace with fresh fruit soaked in brandy or orange liqueur)

Optional Garnish: 200ml double cream, 1/3 tsp peppermint essence, 1 tbsp icing sugar and 1/2 tsp cocoa
  
Method:

1. Put mintsticks in a plastic bag and bash with a rolling pin until you have a  rubble of coarse crumbs and crunchy bits; set aside (Mints: roughly chop, leaving a few halves or quarters for garnish)  
2. Melt baking chocolate in a large bowl over simmering water
3. Beat egg whites, salt & lemon juice with hand or stand electric beaters until the whites form soft peaks - maybe 5 mins?.  Add sugar - a tablespoon at a time -  beating after each addition until the whites form moderately stiff peaks (ie they hold their shape and won't fall out of the bowl if the bowl tips) 
4. When chocolate is almost totally melted, take off heat; stir in peppermint essence; 
5. Allow chocolate to cool until warm but no longer hot; add one third of egg whites to the chocolate; gently hand whisk until blended.
6. Add the rest of the egg whites to chocolate; using a hand whisk, gently but quickly fold in -- the goal is to keep the mix aerated and a few white streaks won't matter.   
7. Pour half the mousse into the serving dish; add a layer of half the mint candy; gently cover with the rest of the chocolate mousse 
8. Refrigerate 3-4 hours
9. Topping: Scatter rest of mint sticks over mousse.  If using cream, whip  till beginning to lose its liquid form (there will be visible rings in the cream); stir in peppermint essence, icing sugar and cocoa; continue beating just till med-firm peaks form.  Spoon or pipe onto mousse.  
10. If you like, dust with more cocoa 

Comments:
'Very scrumptious - hide it from the others; it's that good!' London tube driver
'Luxurious.  Lovely creamy flavour enlivened by mint sticks.' Political agent
'Lovely; mint was fresh, it was not too sweet and the broken chocolate on top was wonderfully crispy.' Local council candidate.

Tips:

• replace mintsticks/chocolate mints with fresh fruit soaked in liquor: raspberries, orange segments, cherries.  Replace vanilla or mint essence with liquor drained from fruit 
• this also works well in individual bowls

* 67 used M&S/Waitrose baking chocolate or couverture (online) 

** Mint Matchsticks  £1.50 1/24 

                                                          More Chocolate on Nav Bar: Recipes I...

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This information  has been developed by B  Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises and may not be reproduced, in any form, without the author's written permission.