Mocha Express Mousse , Egg free
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Is that divine or what? I felt like diving into after it was set and was ready to eat. Chilled, soothing with the flavors of coffee and chocolate..just amazing. To be honest, I was really really impressed with myself after I finished making this dessert.
It was awakening (coffee?). It was refreshing! It was light! It was oh so delish!
A mousse is a French prepared food that incorporates air bubbles to give it a light and airy texture. It can range from light and fluffy to creamy and thick, depending on preparation techniques. A mousse may be sweet or savory. Dessert mousses are typically made with whipped egg whites or whipped cream, and generally flavored with chocolate or puréed fruit.
For the longest time, I wanted to make this dessert egg free and lighter. All the recipes that I came across in general, used either egg whites or gelatin. Gelatin is again a derivative from either fish bones or beef bones these days. So that went out of the window. I have a huge viewership which is vegetarian and they love a good vegetarian treat. So I was on a quest to find Agar Agar or China Grass. Such a shame that stores do not keep this vegetarian gelatin. I had to go to a health store to find this and paid almost $8.00 for 60gms bottle. But I know that I am going to use every dust of it. A good investment in all. All my viewers who use regular gelatin, are more than welcome to use that instead of buying agar agar or china grass.
Let’s get to the recipe to treat our taste buds this weekend with this delightful dessert!
Mocha Express Mousse, Eggfree
Kitchen Equipments Required : 2 heavy bottom pans (1 big and 1 small), stirrer or whisk, bowl with ice cubes, 1 more bowl, plastic wrap, dessert glasses or bowls, egg beater, spatula.
Ingredients :
Milk, skim or low fat : 2 cups
Corn starch/flour : 1&1/2 tbsp
Sugar : 2 to 4 tbsp. I like my desserts less sweet so I used 2 tbsp and it was just sweet. If you like moderate sugar then use 3 tbsp and if you like good amount of sweet to your dessert then 4 tbsp is good.
Salt : a small pinch
Instant coffee powder : 2 tsp
Cocoa powder, unsweetened : 1/2 tbsp
Agar agar or China Grass : 1 tsp
Water : 1/2 cup
Heavy cream : 1/2 cup
For serving : Chocolate Ganache or chocolate sauce, whipped cream, cinnamon powder, granulated sugar(optional), coco powder.
Method :
1. Take the small pan. Add 1/2 cup water. Sprinkle agar agar or china grass on top of it and set side to dissolve. We will tend to it later, once the base pudding is made.
2. Take the large heavy bottom pan. Add Cornflour, sugar, salt, coffee powder and cocoa powder to that. Mix well.
3. Now start adding milk to the pan, in a thin stream while whisking it constantly, using a whisk or stirrer, to avoid lump formation.
4. Put the stove on lower medium flame. Cook the pudding, while stirring constantly so that there is no residue formation at the bottom and to avoid burning. Do not boil the pudding. Keep it at heating. In 7-8 minutes, it will thicken a bit. To test, quickly dab the back of a spoon in the pudding. The pudding will stick to it. It’s done. Put the stove off.
5. Keep stirring it. And set the pan in the bowl with ice to cool it down a bit.
6. Now tend to Agar Agar. Put the pan with agar agar and water on low heat. Start whisking it to dissolve. Do not boil it. It will dissolve in the water on low heat in 2 odd minutes. Take it off the stove.
7. Add the dissolved agar agar water to the pan with base pudding and whisk vigorously to incorporate. The temperature of the pudding and agar agar is same at this point because of the ice bath. Leave the pan in the ice bath.
8. Now take another bowl. Add heavy cream to it and. Start beating the heavy cream to whip it light and solidifies to make soft peaks. Over beating can result in butter formation. Be careful. You may always use ready made whipped cream from the market.
9. Check the pudding. It should have reached the room temperature by now. Stir it again vigorously to break the formation. Now add 1/2 of the whipped cream to the pudding. And fold gently with a spatula. Be very gentle since you don’t want all the air build up in the cream to deflate.
Note : if the pudding is still warm, wait till it reaches room temperature.
10. Now pour the mousse in dessert glasses or bowls. Cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate to chill for 3-4 hrs.
11. When ready to serve, top with chocolate ganache/sauce and the remaining whipped cream. Sprinkle it with a generous amount of granulated sugar, cinnamon powder and cocoa powder.
12. Serve chilled and enjoy a well set mousse which is egg free. It tasted so much like a tiramisu that I am considering a similar recipe for creating an easy tiramisu :).
Note : The process does seen to be long but I have broken it in to more steps for better understanding :). Otherwise it is a simple dessert which is very doable!
This sounds too delish! I normally don’t eat this type of dessert if the eggs aren’t cooked. Well, no need to bother with eggs anymore. Will have to try this. 🙂
That was putting me off too. Raw eggs was a big no no, no matter how decadent And sinful the dessert is. This came out quite pleasing and my kids loved it too .
Sonal, you should always be really really impressed with your dishes. I know I am! My mom used to make coconut milk gelatins with agar agar. So good. I’ve bookmarked your recipe so I can make it for my boyfriend. I know he will LOVE this dessert. 🙂
This looks heavenly Sonal…if only I liked coffee! 😉
Sonal, how did you know that I love coffee-flavored mousse and ganache? You’ve made a dessert that is perfect for me.
Wow ..it’s simply great !..
awesome dikhing 😀
Andy :))). Muah.
Looks just amazing 🙂
Thank you Richa. Tasted divine.
Wow this looks absolutely beautiful!
Thank you so much 🙂
Well done on getting rid of the eggs. That’s one more for the egg-free collection now. Thanks!
Yes :))
Perfect summer dessert Sonal.. It looks amazing:)
What a lovely dessert, Sonal, it looks so delicious 🙂
This looks so yummy and awesome!! I could probably use almond or soy milk, but I wonder what a dairy free substitute could be used for the heavy cream? Unfortunately, as much as I like it, I can’t tolerate dairy.
I have seen many people using thick coconut cream instead :). Open the can of coconut milk. The thick top layer is cream. Take that out and gently fold in for richness.
Mmm! That sounds like a great idea! Thanks! 🙂
Reblogged this on The ObamaCrat™.
Awesome recipe, it looks stunning! I buy agar-agar from the Chinese store. They sell it in powder form in small sachets for less than $2. It works well, I once made vegan fondant with it.
That’s awesome info Apsara :). Thanks.
Looks very tempting, going to make this soon.
Mmm… love it! Love coffee any time!!
I am also on the lookout for agar agar to use in place of custard powder in my egg-free ice cream recipe. In India, I remember getting them as translucent sheets, do they come powdered here? Where did you find it? I am considering Trader’s Joe or Whole Foods next.
Anjana, I found it in powdered form from a local health store. One of my FB friend told me that Indian stored carry it too under agar or china grass. Whole foods should have it.
Thanks :). We loved it !
Our Indian grocery store never has it 🙁
I am going to try WF or some other health store like you mentioned 🙂
Love everything about this post! The setup, the recipe, the lovely tiny spoons, all of it! Xoxo
You should definitely be proud of yourself — this looks wonderful! I love a nice coffee flavored mousse and this looks like perfection in a glass.
It’s so definitely divine! You’re not that far away, I can just come by for a visit. As long as you still have some of this. Of course, I also would like to see you. I’m not just going over for the mousse, seriously! 🙂
Wow – that looks amazing Sonal – great job losing the eggs. Fabulous, lick-the-screen photos too x
Delicious…Light…fluffy..chocolatey..coffee..my dream dessert!