Good quality chocolate is very important in this recipe (you know the saying – if you’re going to do something, do it right.)
Note: A traditional chocolate mousse is made with raw eggs. Please do not let this keep you from making the recipe! If you had this in a restaurant, you'd never know it had raw eggs in it. You'll see what I mean after you try it. It's so rich and light and simply delicious!!
Ingredients:
7 oz. bittersweet or semisweet fine quality chocolate, finely chopped
3 tbsp. water
4 large eggs, at room temperature, separated
Pinch of coarse salt
Directions:
Combine the chocolate and water in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Heat until the chocolate is almost completely melted, stirring occasionally. (If you know how to slowly melt chocolate using the microwave, you can certainly do this. I did.) Remove the bowl from the heat and stir until the mixture is smooth. Set aside and let cool to near room temperature.
In a clean, dry bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the egg whites and the salt. Whip on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form. They should be thick and smooth.
Stir the egg yolks into the cooled chocolate mixture. Add one third of the whipped egg whites to the bowl with the chocolate and fold gently to lighten up the mixture. Fold in the remaining egg whites gently with a spatula just until no visible streaks are left.
Portion the mixture into 4-6 individual serving dishes (or 2 larger serving dishes, for a romantic, share-friendly dessert). Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 3 hours. Serve as desired with freshly whipped cream and chocolate shavings.
7 oz. bittersweet or semisweet fine quality chocolate, finely chopped
3 tbsp. water
4 large eggs, at room temperature, separated
Pinch of coarse salt
Directions:
Combine the chocolate and water in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Heat until the chocolate is almost completely melted, stirring occasionally. (If you know how to slowly melt chocolate using the microwave, you can certainly do this. I did.) Remove the bowl from the heat and stir until the mixture is smooth. Set aside and let cool to near room temperature.
In a clean, dry bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the egg whites and the salt. Whip on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form. They should be thick and smooth.
Stir the egg yolks into the cooled chocolate mixture. Add one third of the whipped egg whites to the bowl with the chocolate and fold gently to lighten up the mixture. Fold in the remaining egg whites gently with a spatula just until no visible streaks are left.
Portion the mixture into 4-6 individual serving dishes (or 2 larger serving dishes, for a romantic, share-friendly dessert). Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 3 hours. Serve as desired with freshly whipped cream and chocolate shavings.
