Gluten-free chocolate orange ricotta mousse with less than 300 calories. Pull up a spoon!
When I was in graduate school getting my MFA, one of my professors recommended that I read The Woman Who Cut of Her Leg at the Maidstone Club by Julia Slavin. In particular, she wanted me to read the short story “Pudding.” I was deep into a magical realism phase, and was at work on a story of my own about a woman who was so obsessed with working out that she literally became a gym rat. (Good grief, I am so glad I only write about food now!)
Anyway, “Pudding” is a fantastic story about a mother who makes homemade pudding for her family. They are completely unappreciative, and so later, when the pudding spills all over the kitchen floor, she refuses to clean it up. Nobody in the family cleans it up, and it stays there for weeks and months, a manifestation of the family’s power struggle.
I was thinking about that story recently because we are trying to teach Owen to be better about cleaning up. He is such a stereotypical toddler boy! He doesn’t walk, he runs; baths must involve crazy amounts of splashing; TV is best watched while jumping up and down on the couch; and in order to play with a toy he must first dump out ALL THE OTHER TOYS. It’s maddening. I’m trying to be strong, like the mother in the story, and not pick up after him. It’s hard though. I almost sprained my ankle the other day on a tiny rubber bouncy ball that was lurking in front of the refrigerator.
I guess remembering “Pudding” also gave me a craving for creamy chocolate desserts, because I tested this recipe three times last week and I’m still not sick of it 🙂
What’s not to love? Milky ricotta, bittersweet chocolate, fresh orange juice, and just a hint of vanilla. Plus it’s no-cook, and the whole recipe takes about 5 minutes to make.
Let’s talk for a minute about serving size. There are “small piece of dark chocolate people“… and then their are normal people like you and me, for whom more dessert = better. This recipe yields five servings that are each well over 1/2 cup. It feels like a really big dessert (especially when you top it with fresh berries) but it has only 285 calories. I realize that five is an odd yield, and the former cookbook editor in me sort of winced, but I felt like six would be too skimpy, and four would push the calories too high. So five it is.
I think you can figure out what to do if you have one leftover.
Healthy Chocolate Orange Ricotta Mousse
2016-01-06 02:07:01
Serves 5
This mousse can be made up to three days ahead. It's delicious topped with fresh berries, chopped pistachios, shaved chocolate, or whipped cream. If you want a little extra indulgence, swap Grand Mariner another orange liqueur for the orange juice.
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups part-skim ricotta
- 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
- 1 tablespoon freshly grated orange zest plus 2 tablespoons juice
- 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted and slightly cooled
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Combine the ricotta, confectioners' sugar, orange zest, and orange juice in a food processor and process for 1 full minute. Taste, and if it's still a bit grainy, process for another minute. Add the melted chocolate chips, cocoa powder, and vanilla and process until blended. Divide between five serving cups and chill until ready to serve.
Notes
- I tested this recipe with a couple of different brands of ricotta and found that I got the smoothest results with Polly-O.
Adapted from Adapted very loosely (more like inspired!) from Real Simple
Turnip the Oven https://turniptheoven.com/
Kristen @ A Mind Full Mom says
This looks simply incredible!! I absolutely love using ricotta for a sweet treat.
grace says
the texture of this is outstanding! what a delicious treat. 🙂
Ashley says
Yum! I will be making this in my new food processor this weekend!
Michelle says
“If you have one left over” pfft! That just means you needed to invite more people for dinner, right? Those look great. I love the flavors of orange and chocolate together. Yum!
Kari says
This looks so delicious and I love that its lightened up with ricotta!
Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com
Jennifer Dawn says
These look delicious! I can’t wait to take a peek at some of your other recipes!
Valen-Eating The Globe says
I really love the look of this. Going to make this with some ricotta that I make myself with goat’s milk!
Elsa | the whinery says
This looks so luscious and it sounds delicious! I won’t have to worry about that one leftover if I made this! 🙂
Rachel @ Simple Seasonal says
This sounds sooo good! I’m really obsessed with all things chocolate orange this winter too!