Fresh Basil Mousse Recipe

By
Stella Parks
Stella Parks
Stella Parks
Editor Emeritus
Stella Parks is a CIA-trained baking nerd and pastry wizard, dubbed one of America's Best New Pastry Chefs by Food & Wine. She was the pastry editor at Serious Eats from 2016 to 2019.
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Updated Apr. 15, 2020
20180530-basil-white-chocolate-mousse-vicky-wasik-31
Photographs: Vicky Wasik

Why It Works

  • White chocolate gives the eggless mousse richness and body.
  • Briefly infusing, then straining, the basil into the base prevents bitterness while keeping the mousse creamy and smooth.
  • A piping bag makes the mousse easy to portion while it's runny and soft.

The flavor and color of this emerald green mousse comes from fresh basil, ground to a pulp with sugar, then steeped into an eggless custard base. White chocolate plays a supporting role, adding richness and body, while melding seamlessly with the herbal aroma. It's as creamy and light as a mousse should be, and the perfect showcase for fresh summer fruit, like strawberries, apricots, and nectarines.

Recipe Facts

5

(2)

Active: About 30 mins
Total: 5 hrs
Serves: 8 servings

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Ingredients

To Bloom the Gelatin:

  • 1/4 ounce unflavored gelatin powder, such as Knox or Now Foods (about 2 1/4 teaspoons; 7g)

  • 1 ounce cold milk, any percentage will do (about 2 tablespoons; 30g)

For the Mousse:

  • 3 1/2 ounces plain or toasted sugar (about 1/2 cup; 100g)

  • 1 1/2 ounces fresh basil (about 1 1/2 cups, loosely packed; 43g)

  • 1 teaspoon (4g) Diamond Crystal kosher salt; for table salt, use about half as much by volume or the same weight

  • 4 ounces roughly chopped white chocolate, not chips (about 2/3 cup; 115g)

  • 12 ounces milk, divided, any percentage will do (about 1 1/2 cups; 340g)

  • 8 ounces heavy cream (about 1 cup; 225g)

  • Fresh fruit, such as sliced strawberries, apricots, or nectarines, for garnish

  • Pine nuts or slivered almonds, for garnish (optional)

Directions

  1. To Bloom the Gelatin: In a small ramekin, mix gelatin with milk, stirring with a fork to break up the lumps.

  2. Meanwhile, for the Mousse: In the bowl of a food processor, combine sugar and basil, then grind until reduced to wet pulp. In a 2-quart stainless steel saucier, combine basil-sugar with salt, white chocolate, and approximately one-third of the milk. Warm over medium heat, stirring constantly with a flexible spatula, until the white chocolate has fully dissolved and the mixture is hot to the touch, but not simmering. Remove from heat, add prepared gelatin, and stir until fully melted.

  3. Using a fine-mesh strainer set over a large heat-proof bowl, strain mixture, pressing on the basil solids with a flexible spatula to extract as much liquid as possible without forcing the pulp through the sieve; discard basil solids. Stir in the remaining milk, then cover and refrigerate until firm and cold, about 3 hours or to a temperature of 40°F (4°C). Alternatively, the mixture can be refrigerated for up to 12 hours.

  4. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the chilled base on medium speed until creamy and smooth, about 90 seconds; if needed, use a flexible spatula to remove any remaining lumps by smearing them against the side of the bowl. Scrape the smooth base back into its original bowl.

  5. Add the cream to the stand mixer bowl (no need to wash) and whip with the whisk attachment until thick and stiff, about 3 minutes, although this will vary depending on the power of the mixer. Once thick, roughly fold approximately half the whipped cream into the basil mixture; then add the remainder and fold gently to combine. Transfer to a disposable pastry bag, snip off 1/4-inch from the tip, then pipe into serving dishes. Cover and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour, or until needed, up to 12 hours. Serve with fresh fruit, sliced and macerated with sugar to taste, and/or nuts if you'd like.

Special equipment

Food processor, 2-quart stainless steel saucier, non-reactive sieve, stand mixer

Notes

American gelatin powder is formulated to a relatively consistent bloom strength, so any brand will do. Gelatin derived from beef, such as that manufactured by Now Foods, tends to have a milder aroma, and the bulk packaging helps drive down the cost.

This Recipe Appears In

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
246 Calories
16g Fat
24g Carbs
3g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 246
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 16g 20%
Saturated Fat 10g 49%
Cholesterol 38mg 13%
Sodium 236mg 10%
Total Carbohydrate 24g 9%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 24g
Protein 3g
Vitamin C 4mg 20%
Calcium 113mg 9%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 155mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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