Caramelized Hazelnut Praline Chocolate Mousse Recipes

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE WITH HAZELNUT PRALINE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the hazelnuts on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until toasted, about 10 minutes.
• Add the egg, egg yolks, vanilla extract, 1/3 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon water to a medium heatproof bowl and whisk to combine. Set the bowl over a medium saucepan of gently simmering water (do not allow the bowl to touch the water). Cook, whisking constantly and scraping down the sides of the bowl occasionally, until the mixture is pale, hot to the touch and has almost doubled in volume, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove from the heat and continue to whisk until the egg mixture has cooled, about 2 minutes.
• Put the bittersweet and semisweet chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl and set it over the saucepan of gently simmering water (do not allow the bowl to touch the water). Stir occasionally with a rubber spatula until the chocolate is melted and smooth.
• Meanwhile, whip the cream in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes. Set aside.
• Once melted, remove the chocolate from the heat and gently stir for about 3 minutes to cool slightly. (If it is too warm it won't combine with the egg mixture or the whipped cream without seizing up.)
• Very slowly stream in and whisk the chocolate into the egg mixture until combined. (The mixture may get very thick.) Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture in 3 additions until it is fully incorporated. Chill, covered, until firm, 4 hours and up to overnight.
• Meanwhile, line a rimmed baking sheet with a silicone baking mat. Add the remaining cup sugar to a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Melt the sugar, swirling the pan and stirring frequently, until it becomes a deep amber color, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove from the heat and fold in the hazelnuts. Pour onto the prepared baking sheet and quickly spread very thin. Let sit at room temperature until hardened, about 1 hour. Once hardened, transfer to a cutting board and finely chop.
• To serve, place the serving plates in the freezer until very cold, about 10 minutes.
• If using melted chocolate and whipped cream for serving, prepare them: Put the semisweet chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl and set it over the saucepan of gently simmering water (do not allow the bowl to touch the water). Stir occasionally with a rubber spatula until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Whip the cream in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes.
• Decorate the plates as desired with cocoa powder, melted chocolate or whipped cream. Place two spoons with deep bowls in a cup of boiling water. Remove the mousse from the refrigerator and spoon two quenelles onto each plate using the hot spoons (be sure to dry your spoons before forming the quenelles). Top with the hazelnut praline.

HAZELNUT MERINGUES WITH HAZELNUT PRALINE & CHOCOLATE SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 120C/100C fan/gas 1. For the meringues, whisk the egg whites with the lemon juice until soft peaks form. Add the caster sugar and continue whisking until stiff, add the icing sugar and ground nuts, then gently fold through until evenly combined. Line a baking tray with baking paper and pipe or spoon out rounds of meringue into 7cm discs. Bake for 1½-2 hrs until crisp outside but still soft in the centre. Leave to cool. You need 3 rounds per person. Leftovers can be kept in an airtight container for about 1 week.
• To make the hazelnut praline, warm a small heavy-based pan over a medium heat and cook the caster sugar until it melts and turns a rich caramel colour. Carefully swirl the hazelnuts around the pan (be careful, the sugar is very hot) and allow them to caramelise and brown - about 2 mins. Pour the mixture out onto a tray lined with baking paper. Leave to cool.
• Make the chocolate sauce by heating together 75ml water, the caster sugar and cocoa powder until boiling. Pour over the chocolate and whisk well until smooth.
• To serve, whisk the cream until soft peaks form. Finely chop the cooled praline by hand or in a food processor. Stir most of it through the whipped cream, setting a little aside. Place a meringue disc on each plate and top with a little of the cream. Add another disc, more cream, followed by the final disc. Top with icing sugar, cocoa powder and some of the reserved chopped praline, then spoon around some chocolate sauce

HAZELNUT PRALINE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees with rack in center. Spread nuts on a rimmed baking sheet, and toast them in the oven until they are fragrant, about 8 minutes. Transfer nuts to a clean kitchen towel, and rub nuts in towel vigorously between your hands to remove the brown skins. Lightly brush an 8-by-12-inch rimmed baking pan with the oil. Spread the peeled nuts in the pan.
• In a medium saucepan, combine sugar and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat, brushing down sides of pan with a damp pastry brush to remove any sugar crystals that may form, until mixture is amber, about 9 minutes; do not stir. (Pan may be swirled gently about halfway through to incorporate any uncooked sugar.) Pour directly over nuts to create a thin layer. Set aside to cool, at least 30 minutes.
• Place half the praline in the bowl of a food processor; process until the praline is very fine with no sharp pieces. Cut the remaining praline into small pieces for decoration.