Name: Chocolate mousse tart with pomegranates and pine nuts
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 100 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: Seeds from 2 pomegranates; 80 gm pine nuts, toasted; 100 ml sugar syrup (see note); 100 ml pomegranate molasses; 50 ml extra-virgin olive oil; 15 mint leaves, thinly sliced; Sweet pastry; 150 gm softened butter; 75 gm caster sugar; ½ vanilla bean, seeds scraped; 225 gm plain flour; ½ lightly beaten egg; 2 tsp pouring cream; Chocolate mousse filling; 6 eggwhites (180gm); 50 gm caster sugar; 180 gm dark chocolate (50% cocoa solids); 85 gm butter; 4 egg yolks (70gm); Ganache; 250 gm dark chocolate (50% cocoa solids), finely chopped; 250 ml (1 cup) pouring cream; 2 tbsp pomegranate molasses

Chocolate mousse tart with pomegranates and pine nuts

Shane Delia, of Melbourne restaurant Maha, shares his recipe for a rich chocolate tart with a Middle Eastern twist.

Serves 8

Prep

40M

Cook

Total

1H 40M

“For some reason, I think this tart tastes like a Cherry Ripe,” Shane Delia says. “None of my chefs agree and they think I’m mad, but the way the bitterness of the pomegranate seeds mixes with the sweetness of the molasses and dark chocolate creates the most beautiful Cherry Ripe flavour. Just try it – close your eyes, take a big mouthful and see for yourself.”

Ingredients

Seeds from 2 pomegranates

80 gm pine nuts, toasted

100 ml sugar syrup (see note)

100 ml pomegranate molasses

50 ml extra-virgin olive oil

15 mint leaves, thinly sliced

Sweet pastry

150 gm softened butter

75 gm caster sugar

½ vanilla bean, seeds scraped

225 gm plain flour

½ lightly beaten egg

2 tsp pouring cream

Chocolate mousse filling

6 eggwhites (180gm)

50 gm caster sugar

180 gm dark chocolate (50% cocoa solids)

85 gm butter

4 egg yolks (70gm)

Ganache

250 gm dark chocolate (50% cocoa solids), finely chopped

250 ml (1 cup) pouring cream

2 tbsp pomegranate molasses

Method

1.For sweet pastry, preheat oven to 180C. Beat butter, sugar and vanilla seeds in an electric mixer to combine (do not overwork). Scrape down sides of bowl, add remaining ingredients and mix until pastry comes together (do not overwork). Knead lightly on a lightly floured surface, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until rested and firm (30 minutes). Roll out pastry on a lightly floured surface to 1.5cm-thick and cut out a 20cm-diameter round. Line the base of a 20cm-springform tin, lined with baking paper, prick pastry with a fork and bake until golden (18-20 minutes). Set aside.

2.Meanwhile, for chocolate mousse filling, whisk eggwhites in an electric mixer until frothy. Gradually add sugar and whisk until combined and soft peaks form. Melt chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl placed over a saucepan of boiling water (5 minutes), stirring occasionally. Gently fold yolks through meringue, then fold through chocolate mixture until combined. Pour over pastry and bake until an inserted skewer withdraws clean (25-35 minutes). Cool in tin on a wire rack to room temperature (1-2 hours).

3.For ganache, place chocolate in a bowl. Combine cream and molasses in a saucepan and bring to the simmer over high heat. Add to chocolate and stir until smooth and glossy, cool slightly, then pour over chocolate mousse filling, spreading evenly, and refrigerate until set (3-4 hours). Alternatively, you can serve the tart with the ganache while it’s still warm and runny.

4.Just before serving, combine pomegranate seeds and remaining ingredients in a bowl. Cut tart with a hot knife and serve, dressed with pomegranate mixture.

Sugar syrup is made from equal quantities of water and sugar, boiled until the sugar has dissolved.
Drink Suggestion: The richest Rutherglen muscat you can afford.
Drink suggestion by Max Allen
Notes