Recipe: Easy Chocolate Mousse

the appetizer:

Making healthy desserts is a snap with Nick Malgieri's Perfect Light Desserts. Here are some "Perfect" Dessert Tips from the book, and sample recipes like Easy Chocolate Mousse, Crisp Chocolate Biscotti and Lemon Cheese Tart with Strawberries.

Easy Chocolate Mousse

Makes about 1-1/2 pints mousse, about six 1/2-cup servings

Most chocolate mousses are high in calories, but it's quite easy to make a delicious chocolate mousse that contains a fraction of the original calories and fat. The secret is to use high-quality bittersweet chocolate. It packs a strong, lively chocolate flavor and makes up for the fact that the mousse doesn't have a quart of whipped cream in it.

1 envelope unflavored gelatin
1/4 cup sweet liqueur, such as Chambord or Triple Sec
1 cup fat-free milk
3/4 cup sugar, divided
2 large eggs
4 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) chocolate, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
4 large egg whites
Large pinch of salt

6 stemmed glasses or ramekins for serving the mousse

1. Sprinkle the gelatin on the liqueur in a small bowl and set aside.

2 Combine the milk and 1/4 cup of the sugar in a small saucepan and whisk to mix. Place over medium heat and bring to a simmer.

3. Meanwhile, whisk the eggs in a small bowl. When the milk boils, whisk about a third of the milk into the eggs. Return the remaining milk to a boil over low heat, then whisk in the egg mixture. Continue whisking until the mixture thickens slightly. Don't let it boil or the eggs will scramble. Remove from the heat and quickly whisk in the gelatin mixture.

4. Whisk in the chocolate and continue whisking until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. Scrape it into a medium bowl and cool it to room temperature.

5. To make the meringue, half fill a medium saucepan with water and bring it to a boil over medium heat. Regulate the heat so that the water simmers gently but isn't boiling violently. Combine the egg whites, salt, and the remaining 1/2 cup sugar in the heatproof bowl of an electric mixer, whisking by hand just to mix. Place the bowl over the pan of water and whisk gently until the egg whites are hot (140 degrees on an instant-read thermometer) and the sugar is dissolved. Place the bowl on the mixer with the whisk attachment and whip on medium speed until the meringue is cooled (it doesn't have to come all the way down to room temperature) and increased in volume.

6. Fold the meringue into the chocolate mixture.

7. Divide the mousse among the prepared glasses and refrigerate until set, 3 to 4 hours.

Serving: Serve the mousse alone or with some Maida's Skinny Whipped Cream (page 285 of the book). You can also decorate it with a few berries or some chocolate shavings (page 286).

Storage: You can prepare the mousse the day before. Keep it covered with plastic wrap if it needs to stay in the refrigerator any more than a few hours after you prepare it.

Per serving: 279 calories, 1 0 g total fat (32% of calories), 5 g saturated fat, 8 g protein, 41 g carbohydrates, 1 g fiber, 71 mg cholesterol, 80 mg sodium

from:
Perfect Light Desserts
Fabulous Cakes, Cookies, Pies, and More Made with Real Butter, Sugar, Flour, and Eggs, All Under 300 Calories Per Generous Serving
By Nick Malgieri, David Joachim
William Morrow
$29.95 U.S. / $37.95 Canada
Hardcover
ISBN 0-06-077929-2
Recipe reprinted by permission.

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