Strawberry Mousse (SCD & GFCF)

Way back – well, last month, when I was going to make my brother’s birthday cake but didn’t end up doing so (we had strawberries and custard instead), I was still determined to make the make the mousse with the strawberries that we’d got for the cake. It was a two-pound container and I think one pound had already been eaten with the custard, so I used the rest to make the mousse.

Filming how to make the mousse (click here to watch the video or watch below, following the recipe) was both trying and amusing. My sister wrote about it on her blog, and I’ll be posting my side of the story (sort of) here in a few weeks to come. I made a comic strip about it.

I was very excited to see that Mrs. Ed of Mrs. Ed’s Research and Recipes is hosting this month’s theme of Go Ahead Honey, It’s Gluten Free. This strawberry mousse is my submission for this month’s theme, gelatin. If you’re interested in participating, visit her blog for this month’s theme’s details. The deadline is May 27th, 2010.

The mousse is very easy and quick to prepare. The longest you have to wait is while it’s setting. It’s dairy-free and doesn’t use raw egg – the only egg ingredient is the yolks used to make the custard, which works as a substitute for yogurt. The custard is the same that I used with the strawberries; I promise that the recipe for the custard is linked correctly this time! (I’m still in the process of updating my interlinks.) If fresh strawberries aren’t available, I’ve also used frozen and they work just as well.

Adapted from Breaking the Vicious Cycle by Elaine Gottschall

Ingredients:

3 cups sliced, fresh strawberries, quartered lengthwise (about 1 lb. strawberries)
1/2 cup cold water
2 tbsp. gelatin
1/4 cup orange juice (not from concentrate)
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1/2 cup honey
1 1/2 cups cold, dairy-free custard (click for recipe)
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Method:

1. Puree the sliced strawberries. Pour the cold water in a small pot and sprinkle the gelatin over water, softening it.
2. Mix in the citrus (orange and lemon) juices, before adding the strawberry puree and honey. Cook over low heat until honey is dissolved.
3. Transfer into a bowl in an ice bath or use an ice pack. (Make sure the water does not flow into the bowl if using ice bath.) Stir for 10 to 20 minutes, or until it’s the consistency of raw egg whites.
4. Mix in the custard and vanilla. Pour into molds (if you have ring molds, you may use those) and cover, chilling in the fridge until set, about 8 hours or overnight.
5. The mousse can be eaten right out of the mold or removed by briefly placing the mousses in a lukewarm water bath (make sure the water does not flow over into the mousse) and running a knife along the edges to loosen. Quickly turn the mousse upside down on a plate. Garnish with extra strawberries or other fruit, if desired. Serve and enjoy!

Video

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