Dairy Free Chocolate Mousse with Poached Pear
Author: 
Recipe type: Dessert
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 4
 
A simple, light yet indulgent dairy free chocolate mousse using coconut cream. Topped for Autumn with poached pear slices.
Ingredients
Mousse
  • 100mls Coconut cream
  • 100g dark organic chocolate (at least 70%)
  • 2 medium free-range organic eggs
  • tsp vanilla extract
  • 1-2 Tbs sugar (depending on your sweet palate and the % of your chocolate)
Pear garnish
  • 1 sweet pear (such as Williams), peeled, cored and thinly sliced
  • 1 tsp honey
  • Extra chocolate shavings.
Instructions
  1. Heat the coconut cream in a heavy bottomed saucepan* over a very low and heat through for a few mins. Break up the chocolate and add to the coconut cream. Stir a few times and then leave for a few mins whilst the chocolate melts into the cream. Keep the heat on low since you don't want the cream or the chocolate to burn.
  2. Meanwhile, separate the eggs and whisk up the whites till soft peaks form.
  3. When the chocolate has completely melted into the cream stir a few times to ensure a smooth brown consistency and remove from the heat, stir through the sugar and the vanilla extract.
  4. When the creamy chocolate has cooled sufficiently pour a little into a clean bowl with the yolks and stir well. It is important to add a little at a time to bring up the temperature of the yolks or else they will scramble. Gradually pour the rest into the yolks and combine well. Finally gently fold in the egg whites till there is no trace of white.
  5. Spoon the mixtures into espresso cups or ramekins and place in the fridge for around an hour to set.
  6. To make your pear garnish, bring a small saucepan of water to a simmer (around 2cm deep). Stir through the honey, then add the pear slices. Cook for 5 minutes, until tender then drain and pat dry on some kitchen towel before using them to top the mousse with some extra chocolate shavings. The pear can be poached ahead of time and chilled.
Notes
*If you are using an electric hob and don't have a heavy bottomed saucepan you may wish to melt the cream and chocolate over a bain marie to avoid the chocolate getting too near the heat source and burning.
Recipe by Ceri Jones Chef at https://cerijoneschef.com/dairy-free-chocolate-mousse-poached-pear/