Strawberry Mousse

Strawberry Mousse

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and it comes just once a year. Every special celebration calls for a special treat. With a sweet tooth like mine, I would love to have sweets as starters, main course and of course for desserts too;)
But in busy day to day life sometimes we don't have time to whip up a special meal. But trust me a simple dish made with love speaks love.

A Mousse is a french word meaning Foam. It is prepared by food that incorporates air bubbles to give it a light and airy texture. Mousse is the lighter, fluffier cousin of pudding. Its lighter texture comes from whipping air into the mixture. It gets its airy consistency by folding whipped egg whites or whipped cream into the base mixture.

I am in love with this Dessert and why not:

Its super duper easy to make
Fast and quick to make
No gelatin to set it.
No eggs to stabilize
Absolutely no artificial colors.
Light and fluffy
No elaborate methods or techniques
Can be made ahead and served later
Great for parties and get togethers

INGREDIENTS:

500 ml Whipping Cream
250 grams White Chocolate
2 tablespoon Icing Sugar

DIRECTIONS:

Melt this either by using double boiler method(Take a saucepan with glassful of water and bring to a simmer. Put the bowl (with chocolate mixture) on top of it. Make sure that bottom of the bowl is not touching the water. Keep stirring and it will starts to melt. Once it melts completely, it will be smooth and shiny. Remove the bowl from the heat).
Or you can melt it by microwaving in a heat proof bowl. Just keep the bowl with chocolate pieces in Microwave for 30 seconds. Give it a good stir to break all the lumps. If lumps are still there, keep it for 20 seconds more.
Stir well to have smooth chocolate.

With the help of either mixer grinder or stick blender make a puree of strawberries and keep aside.

Meanwhile start whipping the cream. Take the chilled heavy whipping cream in a bowl.

Start whipping the cream and icing sugar by using hand mixer or stand mixer with whisk attachment.
Whip it till you get soft peaks.
Do not over-mix it otherwise cream might curdle and turn into butter.

Next, mix the melted chocolate which should be at room temperature, into the whipped cream by cut and fold method.

Divide the mousse into individual serving bowls or glasses.
Tap the glasses to set the mousse.

You can serve the mousse as it is or with-
Compote
Coulis
Chocolate sauce
Strawberry sauce
Chocolate shavings

There was some Coulis lying in my fridge so I just spooned some on these glasses.

Recipe Card

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This mousse is the simplest dessert that can be whipped up in a few minutes. 
I am in love with this Dessert and why not:

Its super duper easy to make
Fast and quick to make
No gelatin to set it.
No eggs to stabilize 
Absolutely no artificial colors. 
Light and fluffy 
No elaborate methods or techniques
Can be made ahead and served later
Great for parties and get togethers
Preparation time: 20minutes
Setting time: 2-3 hours
Serves: 11-12

INGREDIENTS:

500 ml Whipping Cream
250 grams White Chocolate
2 tablespoon Icing Sugar
12-13 Strawberries

DIRECTIONS:
Start by breaking white chocolate into small pieces.

Melt this either by using double boiler method(Take a saucepan with glassful of water and bring to a simmer. Put the bowl (with chocolate mixture) on top of it. Make sure that bottom of the bowl is not touching the water. Keep stirring and it will starts to melt. Once it melts completely, it will be smooth and shiny. Remove the bowl from the heat).
Or you can melt it by microwaving in a heat proof bowl. Just keep the bowl with chocolate pieces in Microwave for 30 seconds. Give it a good stir to break all the lumps. If lumps are still there, keep it for 20 seconds more.
Stir well to have smooth chocolate.
Let the mixture cool down to room temperature. It may take about 15-20 minutes.

With the help of either mixer grinder or stick blender make a puree of strawberries and keep aside.

Meanwhile start whipping the cream. Take the chilled heavy whipping cream in a bowl.
( To get perfect result use chilled cream, whisk and the mixing bowl by keeping all the things in refrigerator for about two hours)

Start whipping the cream and icing sugar by using hand mixer or stand mixer with whisk attachment. 
Whip it till you get soft peaks. 
Do not over-mix it otherwise cream might curdle and turn into butter.

Next, mix the melted chocolate which should be at room temperature, into the whipped cream by cut and fold method.
Be very gentle otherwise the whipped cream will lose all the airiness. 
Add the pureed strawberries too.
Mix well but be gentle.

Divide the mousse into individual serving bowls or glasses.
Tap the glasses to set the mousse.
Keep in the refrigerator to set for about 2 hours or more.

You can serve the mousse as it is or with-
Compote 
Coulis
Chocolate sauce
Strawberry sauce
Chocolate shavings