The black pearl

The black pearl

A jewel of incalculable flavour. Christian Escribà is a master of trompe l'oeil. His in-depth knowledge of chocolate allows him to create real jewels of chocolate-making like this one. A delicate pearl with a Catania heart over a base of chocolate cream, sponge cake, cocoa crumble and mousse made with Selección Maragda 70% dark chocolate. As exquisite as it is elegant.
Level:
Medium

oyster shell

Ingredients: oyster shell

  • 0.1 oz
    fat-soluble white color
  • 7.7 gr
    water-soluble violet food colouring
  • 3.1 gr
    fat soluble black colouring
  • 0.4 oz
    hazelnuts rolled in white chocolate (Catanias)
  • 1.5 gr
    Silver colour

Preparation: oyster shell

Make irregular stains on the mould using a paint brush and 25 g of warm white chocolate plus the violet colouring. Coat the mould with the rest of the warm white chocolate and the white colouring. Once out of the mould, use a paint brush to paint the pieces lightly with the powdered black colouring. 

the pearls

Place the Catanias and the pearled silver colouring in a small jar or recipient. Shake vigorously for a few seconds.

70% cream

Ingredients: 70% cream

Preparation: 70% cream

Make a crème anglaise at 82ºC. Strain and scald the 70% chocolate. Emulsify and set aside in the refrigerator. Place in a piping bag and keep in the refrigerator until it's time to assemble the dessert.

70% sponge cake

Ingredients: 70% sponge cake

Preparation: 70% sponge cake

Melt the chocolate and the butter. Add the egg yolks. Whisk the egg whites with the sugar to obtain a meringue. Add the powdered cocoa making folding movements. Mix the meringue into the melted chocolate. Bake in the oven at 200ºC for about 5 minutes.

cocoa crumble

Ingredients: cocoa crumble

Preparation: cocoa crumble

Mix all the ingredients using the food processor paddles. Make a cylinder with the mixture and wrap in cling film. Freeze. Grate onto a Silpat silicon mat and bake at 150ºC. Leave to cool and seal with 70% chocolate.

70% mousse

Ingredients: 70% mousse

Preparation: 70% mousse

Boil the milk and scald the 70% chocolate. Add the previously soaked gelatin. When the mixture reaches 35ºC, add the semi-whipped cream.

70% coating

Ingredients: 70% coating

Preparation: 70% coating

Heat the cream and the neutral coating to 70ºC. Dissolve the chocolate in the microwave and scald. Apply at 35ºC