Chocolate-Orange Silk Mousse
This intensely chocolate dessert will convince even the most skeptical that tofu can be downright delicious. It is just as easy to prepare as pudding mix, but not only does it taste better, it’s packed with all the good things found in tofu. Make sure the tofu is gossamer-smooth before adding the chocolate mixture.
Ingredients:
One 12.3-ounce package reduced-fat silken tofu (11/2 cups)
3 ounces best-quality bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, preferably Dutch-process (see Ingredient Note)
1/4 cup boiling water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated orange zest
2/3 cup confectioners’ sugar
2/3 cup chocolate wafer crumbs (3 ounces) (see Nutrition Note)
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Puree tofu in a food processor, scraping down the sides as needed, until completely smooth.
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Combine chocolate and cocoa in a medium bowl. Add boiling water and stir with a wooden spoon until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth. Stir in vanilla and orange zest. Mix in confectioners’ sugar, a little at a time, until smooth. Add the chocolate mixture to the processor; puree until smooth and well blended, scraping down the sides as needed.
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Spoon about 2 teaspoons chocolate crumbs into each of 5 parfait glasses or dessert dishes. Add about 1/4 cup mousse, then layer with another 2 teaspoons crumbs. Top with another 1/4 cup mousse and finish with a sprinkling of crumbs. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Nutrition Note: Many commercial cookies contain partially hydrogenated oil, a source of trans-fatty acids. Fortunately, brands made without these oils, such as Newman’s Own Organics Tops and Bottoms or Chocolate Alphabet Cookies, are every bit as tasty. Look for them in the natural-foods section of large supermarkets.
Ingredient Note: Dutch-process cocoa is treated with alkali to neutralize its natural acidity. This process produces cocoa that is darker and has a mellower chocolate flavor than regular cocoa. Some brands to look for: Droste, Schokinag, Bensdorp, Pernigotti (www.kingarthurflour.com; www.penzeys.com; www.worldpantry.com).
To make wafer crumbs: Place wafers in a zippered plastic bag, seal and crush with a rolling pin. Alternatively, pulse wafers in a food processor.
Makes 5 servings, about 1/2 cup each.
Per serving: 266 calories; 9 g total fat (4 g sat, 0 g mono); 1 mg cholesterol; 42 g carbohydrate; 8 g protein; 4 g fiber; 125 mg sodium.
B-man 