This playful but technical dessert from Tom Shepherd was first devised for Great British Menu. A banana mousse is dipped in white chocolate, and then carefully painted to look like a real banana, and served with granola-topped ice cream.
To make the banana mousse base, first heat the banana purée, milk, egg yolk and sugar in a Thermomix to 90°C. Add the cream cheese and gelatine and blend, then transfer to a container to cool and set. This can also be done in a pan and with a blender
Fold the banana base into the double cream, then fold in the chocolate-coated popping candy and transfer to a piping bag
Pipe into the banana mould and then transfer to a blast freezer until solid
To make the banana ice cream, place all ingredients into a Thermomix and heat up to 98°C. Divide between Pacojet containers and then freeze in the blast chiller until ready to churn
Alternatively, this can be heated up to 98°C in a pan and then chilled and churned in an ice cream maker
To make the banana cake, first preheat the oven to 160°C
Cream the butter, vanilla, and sugar in a stand mixer with a paddle attachment fitted. Incorporate the eggs, then finally add the mashed banana, self-raising flour, sodium bicarbonate, salt and banana extract
Transfer the cake mix to a half gastro lined with parchment paper and bake for 25 minutes
Let cool then cut out 12 pieces of cake with a ring cutter
To make the granola, combine all the ingredients and mix together in a stand mixer
Bake in the oven, also at 160°C, for 24 minutes, turning and stirring every 8 minutes
To make the cocoa butter dip, first heat the cocoa butter to 70°C, then pour over the chocolate. Blend the mixture with a stick blender and add yellow food colouring until it’s the colour of a banana
Dip the frozen banana mousse in the cocoa butter mix and then transfer to the fridge so the dip can set and the mousse can defrost
Paint with the black colouring to make it look like a banana
To serve, put a banana on each plate, and then place the banana sponge on the side and top with the ice cream, granola and drizzle over the caramelised condensed milk
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