Cocoa Nut Mousse Food

COCONUT MOUSSE

Steps:

• Pour 3/4 of the puree into a small bowl and sprinkle the gelatin over the surface to soften. In a small saucepan, heat the remaining 1/2 cup of puree and the sugar over low heat until the sugar dissolves. Stir the puree and gelatin into the warm puree and stir to dissolve the gelatin. If lumps remain, put the pan over low heat and stir just until the lumps dissolve. Pour the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a large bowl. Let the mixture cool to room temperature. In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the cream until it holds medium peaks. Fold one-third of it into the coconut mixture. Fold in the remaining whipped cream until no streaks remain. Pour the mousse into a bowl (or ramekins) and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

COCONUT MOUSSE

Steps:

• Pour boiling-hot water over dried coconut in a blender, then blend, scraping down sides as necessary, until combined well, about 30 seconds (use caution when blending hot liquids). Cool in blender until cool enough to handle.
• Line a large fine-mesh sieve with several layers of cheesecloth and set it over a bowl. Pour coconut mixture into lined sieve and squeeze out as much liquid as possible.
• Whisk together sweetened condensed milk and 1 cup coconut milk in a large bowl.
• Pour remaining coconut milk into a 1-cup glass measure and add enough whole milk to bring total to 1 cup, then transfer to a small saucepan.
• Sprinkle gelatin over milk mixture in saucepan and let stand 1 minute to soften, then heat over moderate heat, whisking occasionally, until gelatin is dissolved (do not let boil). Whisk into sweetened condensed milk mixture in large bowl until combined. Quick-chill by putting bowl in a larger bowl of ice and cold water and stirring occasionally until mixture is the consistency of raw egg whites, about 10 minutes. Remove bowl from ice bath.
• Beat cream with an electric mixer until it holds soft peaks, then fold cream into coconut mixture gently but thoroughly.
• Using cleaned beaters, beat egg whites with a pinch of salt until they hold soft peaks, then fold into coconut mixture gently but thoroughly. Chill, covered, until set, about 1 hour.

COCOA NUT MOUSSE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 275. Spread almonds on a baking sheet and toast until golden and fragrant, stirring occasionally, 8-10 minutes. Transfer to a plate to cool. Spread coconut on the baking sheet and toast until golden, 2-3 minutes. Transfer to a plate to cool.
• In a large bowl, beat ricotta with an electric mixer at high speed until light and airy, about 4 minutes. Add cocoa powder, sugar substitute, and almond and vanilla extracts; beat just until blended. Fold in whipped topping, almonds, and coconut.
• Spoon mousse into 8 dessert cups; cover and chill at least 2 hours. To serve, remove mousse from refrigerator and sprinkle lightly with a few almonds and a little coconut, if desired.