Strawberry Basil Mint Mousse Recipes

STRAWBERRY-BASIL MOJITOS

Steps:

• For the strawberry-basil puree: To make the simple syrup, heat the sugar and 2 cups water in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring as needed, until the sugar has completely dissolved. Set aside and allow to cool completely.
• Add half of the strawberries, lime juice and basil to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until you reach a consistency that makes you happy. I do 10 to 15 pulses, which leaves a good bit of texture. Transfer to a pitcher or container. Repeat with the other half and add to the same container. Pour in the room temperature simple syrup, mix and chill for at least 30 minutes.
• For the strawberry-basil mojitos: Pour 1/2 cup of the strawberry basil puree into each glass. Top with 2 ounces of your favorite light rum, add ice and stir gently to combine. Top off each glass with a splash of soda. Garnish each drink with a stalk of basil and a lime wedge.

STRAWBERRY MINT SEDUCTION

Steps:

• Mix the strawberries with the mint in a bowl.
• Combine the water and sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until mixture reaches a thin syrup consistency, about 3 minutes.
• Drizzle syrup over the strawberries and mint and toss gently. Divide berries into four serving cups. Top each with ice cream and a dollop of whipped cream. Garnish with a mint leaf.

BASIL CHEESECAKE WITH STRAWBERRY MOUSSE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Line a 9-inch springform tin with parchment paper.
• Combine chocolate wafers and butter in a food processor; process into fine crumbs. Press crumbs evenly into the bottom of the tin. Transfer crust to the refrigerator.
• Combine 1 cup heavy cream and basil in a food processor; blend until smooth. Add cream cheese, eggs, 3/4 cup sugar, flour, and cornstarch. Blend until smooth. Pour over chilled crust, smoothing the top with a spatula.
• Bake in the preheated oven until surface is firm except for a small spot in the center that will jiggle when the tin is gently shaken, about 1 hour. Turn off oven and open the door. Leave cheesecake in the oven until completely cooled, about 1 hour.
• Refrigerate cheesecake until completely set, about 6 hours.
• Combine gelatin and water in a small bowl; let stand until softened, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Place strawberries in a blender; blend until smooth and frothy.
• Pour 1/3 of the strawberries in a saucepan over medium heat; add 1/4 cup sugar. Stir until sugar dissolves, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in gelatin mixture. Mix in remaining strawberries.
• Whip 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons heavy cream with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Fold in strawberry mixture to make mousse.
• Run a knife around the edges of the tin to remove cheesecake; place on a serving platter. Cover top and sides with mousse. Refrigerate until mousse is set, 2 to 3 hours.

STRAWBERRY-BASIL-MINT MOUSSE

Steps:

• In a small pot, heat the strawberries and syrup. Sprinkle the gelatin over the strawberries and stir until the gelatin is dissolved. Remove from heat and cool.
• Put egg whites in a medium sized bowl and beat with an electric mixer until frothy. Add the sugar a little at a time while continuing to beat the egg whites until they form stiff peaks.
• In a separate larger bowl, beat the whipping cream until stiff peaks form.
• Place the cooled strawberry mixture in a blender and blend. Add about 10 mint leaves and 10 basil leaves and blend. Adjust to taste.
• Pour half the strawberry/herb mixture and half the egg whites into the whipped cream and fold together. Pour the rest of the strawberries and egg whites in and fold.
• Ladle the mousse into serving dishes and chill before serving, about one hour. A mint leaf makes a nice garnish.

FROZEN LEMON MOUSSES WITH STRAWBERRY MINT SAUCE

Steps:

• If using ramekins, line each with plastic wrap, allowing a 2-inch overhang.
• In a very small bowl sprinkle gelatin over cold water to soften. In a bowl with a fork beat yolks until smooth. In a saucepan simmer zest, lemon juice, and 1/3 cup sugar over moderate heat, stirring, until sugar is dissolved and whisk half of lemon mixture in a slow stream into yolks. Transfer yolk mixture to remaining lemon mixture and cook over moderate heat, stirring constantly, until it is thickened and just begins to simmer. Pour mixture through a fine sieve into a large bowl and add gelatin mixture and vanilla, stirring until gelatin is dissolved. Cool lemon mixture to room temperature.
• In a bowl with an electric mixer beat together whites (or reconstituted dried egg whites) and cream of tartar until meringue just holds soft peaks. Gradually beat in remaining 1/3 cup sugar until meringue just holds stiff peaks.
• In a bowl with electric mixer beat cream until it just holds stiff peaks. Stir one third meringue into lemon mixture to lighten and fold in remaining meringue and whipped cream gently but thoroughly. Spoon mousse into foil molds or lined ramekins. Chill mousses until set, about 4 hours, and freeze set mousses, covered with plastic wrap, until frozen, about 4 hours, and up to 2 days.
• Assemble desserts:
• Spoon some sauce onto 4 dessert plates, tilting plates to coat. If using foil molds, cut tape on cylinders and gently unwrap mousses, arranging 1 on each plate. If using ramekins, remove mousses, using plastic wrap overhang to lift them out, and invert onto plates. Gently remove plastic wrap. Garnish desserts with mint.
• To Make Foil Molds for Mousses:
• Tear off 4 12- by 8-inch sheets of foil. Fold each sheet lengthwise into a 12- by 2 1/4-inch strip (about 3 layers thick) and trim each strip to 10 inches in length. Wrap 1 strip, smooth side in, around base of a bottle or glass that is 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 inches in diameter and tape overlapping end of strip at top and bottom of cylinder. Gently slide cylinder off bottle or glass. Create 3 more cylinders with remaining foil strips in same manner. On a small baking sheet stand cylinders on 1 end and tape each to baking sheet in 2 places to prevent them from moving while being filled.