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White Chocolate Mousse with Strawberries and Balsamic

White Chocolate Mousse with Strawberries and Strawberry Balsamic Vinegar

White Chocolate Mousse closely adapted from Alice Medrich
Course Dessert
Keyword mousse, strawberries, white chocolate
Author TheSpicedLife

Ingredients

For the mousse:

  • 9 oz white chocolate finely chopped (use a good quality chocolate; it should have cocoa butter in it)
  • 4 T water
  • 2 T vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
  • 2 t vanilla bean paste or scrape seeds out of a vanilla bean

For assembling:

  • 1 lb strawberries half of them sliced
  • white chocolate mousse
  • strawberry infused balsamic vinegar

Instructions

  1. For the mousse: Place the chocolate, vanilla extract and water in a heat proof bowl. Either melt over a double boiler or in the microwave at 30% power for 3 minutes. Stir until completely melted and smooth. Stir in the vanilla bean paste (or seeds) and set aside to cool. The chocolate must cool to about 85 F (Medrich notes a small dab on the lip should feel cool; I used a thermometer)–do not let it cool lower than 85 F as the mousse will end up grainy. When the mousse is getting close to 85 F, it is time to fix the cream.
  2. Whip the cream in a medium bowl “only until it is thickened and barely beginning to hold a shape–when you tilt the bowl it should flow to one side, fluffy but still pourable…”–I have quoted Medrich here as she emphasizes that you will think the cream is not whipped enough but it is and she is right. It should barely be whipped.
  3. Scrape the cream into the 85 F bowl of chocolate and quickly but gently fold the 2 together until they are completely blended. The mousse should seem too soft–it still needs to chill. Place it into the fridge to chill for 1 hour.
  4. To assemble: Remove the mousse and divide half of it between 4 individual glasses. Shake gently to level it. Divide the sliced strawberries between the glasses, layering them on top of the mousse. Divide the remaining mousse over the strawberry slices. Chill until set, about 30-45 minutes more.
  5. Garnish with strawberries. Drizzle with a little balsamic vinegar.