Apricot Mousse
Serves: 4
Preparation time: 30 min. plus chilling
Mousse d'Apricots, a fragrant, light dessert based on a recipe I got from friends in the Drôme Provençale. Apricots are a much loved fruit around the Mediterranean. While fresh apricots are enjoyed in season, a great deal of it is dried for use throughout the year. They keep well and make great desserts in the winter when fresh fruits are not so readily available in the local markets.
Ingredients
- 500 gr (1 lbs) dried apricots
- 250 ml (1 cup) water
- 125 ml (1/2 cup) dry white wine
- 2 egg yolks, lightly beaten
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 350 ml (1 1/2 cup) milk
- 1/2 teasp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp apricot liquor (optional)
- 180ml (about 3/4 cup) heavy cream, whipped
- 8 mint leaves (optional)
Preparation:
Wash apricots and place them in a saucepan with the water and wine. Cover and simmer gently for 15-20 minutes. Set aside to cool a bit. Save 4 cooked apricots for garnishing. Process remaining apricots with the cooking water in food processor until you obtain a smooth puree.
Beat eggs with the sugar and cornstarch until well mixed and pour it in a saucepan. Add the milk stirring constantly. Cook over low heat just until it thickens. Do not let it come to a boil. Fold in the apricot puree, the vanilla extract and the apricot liquor (optional). Mix well.
Chill for 30 minutes. Fold in the whipped heavy cream.
Pour apricot cream into chilled dessert glasses and chill well again before serving. Garnish with an apricot half and some mint leaves.
Serve it on its own or with Crème Fraîche or Mascarpone.
