Chocolate mousse with cocoa nibs

This mousse is for any serious chocaholic. The silky-smooth feel from the pastry cream together with the melted dark chocolate gives an extra-rich flavour.

• serves

  4

• prep

  45 minutes

• cook

  35 minutes

• difficulty

  Mid

Ingredients

For the crème pâtissière (pastry cream)

• 3 free-range egg, yolks only
• 50 g caster sugar
• 20 g cornflour
• 250 ml whole milk
• 1 heaped tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

For the chocolate meringue

• 3 free-range eggs, whites only
• 50 g icing sugar
• couple drops lemon juice
• pinch of salt
• 150 g dark chocolate, finely chopped
• 200 ml whipping cream

To serve

• 2 tbsp soft butter
• 50 g cocoa nibs

Resting time 2 hours (including the pastry cream)

Instructions

For the crème pâtissière, whisk the egg yolks with the sugar until pale and thick, then whisk in the cornflour. Add the cocoa powder to the milk and bring to a boil then switch off the heat. Pour the milk in a slow stream onto the egg mixture, whisking vigorously all the time. (Pour slowly to avoid scrambling the egg.) Return the mixture to a clean pot over a medium heat and whisk continuously. Make sure to scrape the sides and the bottom, otherwise it will burn. The cream will start to thicken. Once it releases a bubble or two, take it off the heat. Pour into a shallow bowl. Cover with cling film (pat the cling film so it sticks directly on to the cream) and refrigerate for at least an hour before using.

For the meringue, put half the egg whites into a clean glass or metal bowl. Add the sugar, lemon juice and salt and whisk until white. Add the rest of the egg whites and continue whisking until the meringue forms stiff peaks when the whisk is removed.

Melt the chocolate in a bain marie (a heatproof bowl set over a pot of simmering water) or in the microwave on a low setting.

Whip the cream until soft peaks form when the whisk is removed.

To make the mousse, beat the chilled crème pâtissière to remove any lumps before stirring in the melted chocolate. Mix in one third of the meringue, then gently fold in the rest followed by the whipped cream.

To serve, brush 4-6 glasses or ramekins with soft butter. Add some cocoa nibs and roll them around the sides and bottom of the glasses until evenly coated.

Divide the mousse between the glasses and chill for at least an hour, but ideally four hours. Serve chilled, sprinkled with cocoa nibs. The mousse is best eaten the same day and should not be kept for more than two days (due to the raw egg whites).

Recipes from Little Paris Kitchen by Rachel Khoo (Michael Joseph, 2012). Text © 2012 by Rachel Khoo. Photography by David Loftus.

Cook's Notes

Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.