Equipment
Ingredients
Apricot Base
- 200 g dried apricots, roughly chopped
- 200 ml water
- 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
- 45 ml amaretto liqueur
Italian Meringue
- 120 g caster sugar
- 30 ml water
- 60 g egg whites, room temperature
Cream Base
- 300 ml heavy cream, chilled
Nutrition (per serving)
Method
In a medium saucepan, combine the chopped dried apricots, 200ml water, and the scraped seeds and pod of the vanilla bean. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook until the apricots are very tender and the liquid is mostly absorbed, about 20 minutes.
Remove and discard the vanilla pod. Transfer the warm apricots to a blender, add the amaretto liqueur, and process until completely smooth.
Transfer the apricot puree to a mixing bowl and refrigerate until completely cool.
In a clean mixing bowl, whip the chilled heavy cream to soft peaks. Store in the refrigerator until needed.
For the Italian meringue, combine the caster sugar and 30ml water in a small saucepan. Heat over medium-high heat until the syrup reaches 118°C/244°F on a candy thermometer.
While the syrup heats, whip the egg whites to soft peaks in a stand mixer. Once the syrup reaches 118°C/244°F, carefully pour it down the side of the bowl into the running mixer. Continue whipping until the bowl feels cool to the touch and the meringue is glossy and stiff.
Gently fold the cooled apricot puree into the Italian meringue using a rubber spatula until well combined but not deflated.
Add the chilled whipped cream to the apricot and meringue mixture, folding carefully from the bottom to maintain aeration.
Divide the mousse into individual ramekins. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and freeze for at least 6 hours, preferably overnight, until firm.
Chef's Notes
- Using high-quality, plump dried apricots is crucial for flavor depth. If your apricots are very dry and hard, soak them in boiling water for an hour before beginning the simmering process.
- Whipping the heavy cream to soft peaks rather than stiff peaks is essential. Softly whipped cream folds much more easily into the meringue base, preventing the loss of delicate air bubbles that give the frozen mousse its luxurious texture.
- The amaretto not only provides a complementary nutty flavor, but the alcohol content actually lowers the freezing point of the mousse, ensuring the dessert remains creamy and scoopable rather than freezing into a solid block.
Storage
Freezer: 1 month — Wrap each ramekin tightly with plastic wrap to prevent freezer burn and odor absorption.
