Irish Atlantic Sea Salt & caramel mousse with Stonewell apple cider sorbet
About the Recipe:
Craft ciders have been making a comeback and Derry Clarke showcases Stonewell’s tangy flavours by contrasting with a sweet and salty mousse in this contemporary Irish dessert.
Serves: 4
Ingredients:
for the sorbet
250g sugar
125g water
1 tsp glucose syrup
juice from 1 lemon
150g pressed apple juice
1 x 500ml bottle of Stonewell Dry Irish Cider
for the caramel
500g caster sugar
75g unsalted butter
1½ tsp Irish Atlantic sea salt
3½ leaves of gelatine (soaked) or 4g agar
250g cream
for the mousse
100g caster sugar
100g icing sugar
100g egg white
500g lightly whipped cream
to serve
clotted cream, optional
cinnamon crumble, optional
Method:
To make the apple cider sorbet, bring the water, sugar and glucose syrup to the boil, turn down heat and simmer for three minutes. Remove from heat and then add the remaining ingredients. Leave to cool. Once cooled, place into an ice cream churner and churn according to manufacturer’s instructions.
To make the caramel, heat a heavy bottomed pan over a medium heat and slowly pour in enough sugar to just cover the base of the pan. When the sugar changes to an amber colour, slowly add more, mixing gently as you go. Continue in this way until you have added all the sugar and a rich dark caramel colour has been achieved.
Remove pan from heat. Add the butter and the Irish Atlantic Sea Salt. Stir to dissolve. Add the cream gradually, taking care as the caramel is very hot and may spit. Once all the ingredients are mixed together, add the soaked gelatine or whisk the agar into the mixture. Set aside to cool.
To make the meringue mix for the mousse, beat the egg whites in a spotlessly clean bowl until soft peaks form when the whisk is removed. Add the sugar in one tablespoon at a time, whisking constantly, until all the sugar is incorporated and stiff peaks form. (If you prefer to cook the egg whites you can use an Italian meringue recipe as the base for this mousse.)
Once the caramel mixture has cooled, fold it into the meringue and then fold in the cream. Leave to set in the fridge until ready to serve.
Serve on a chilled plate. Arrange a quenelle of caramel mousse in the centre of the plate and place spheres of sorbet to sit alongside the mousse. Add a quenelle of clotted cream and sprinkle with cinnamon crumble, if using.
Recipe By:
Derry Clarke
