Bittersweet Chocolate Semifreddo
- 10 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped, plus 2 ounces shavings for garnish
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 3/4 cups heavy cream
- 3 tablespoons dark rum
- 3/4 cup egg whites (from about 5 large eggs)
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- Pinch of salt
- 1 cup whole hazelnuts
- In the top of a double boiler set over barely simmering water, combine the chocolate and 4 tablespoons of the butter.
- Cook, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate melts and the mixture is smooth.
- Remove from the heat and set aside.
- Whip the cream with the rum until soft peaks form.
- Cover and refrigerate.
- In the top of a double boiler, combine the egg whites, sugar and salt.
- Cook, whisking continually, until the mixture registers 140 degrees on a candy thermometer and remove from heat.
- Transfer the mixture to a bowl of an electric mixer and whip on a high speed until the meringue is completely cooled, about 20 to 25 minutes.
- Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Place the hazelnuts in a heavy baking pan and roast until the skins crack and the nuts are lightly browned, about 10 minutes.
- Rub the nuts in a towel to remove the skins.
- Transfer the nuts to a food processor, add the remaining butter and process until a smooth paste is formed.
- Line a 2-quart loaf pan with plastic wrap.
- In a large bowl, combine the melted chocolate and the hazelnut paste.
- Fold in the whipped cream.
- Fold in 1/4 of the meringue, then the remainder.
- Scrape the mixture into the prepared pan, cover with a plastic wrap and freeze overnight.
- To serve, remove the top layer of plastic wrap, invert the loaf pan onto a platter and peel away the remaining plastic wrap.
- Slice into 1/2-inch slices and garnish with chocolate shavings.
bittersweet chocolate, unsalted butter, heavy cream, dark rum, egg whites, sugar, salt, hazelnuts
Taken from cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/7298 (may not work)