Berry and Rosewater Yoghurt Mousse

Mousse has a reputation for being fussy, but this one is about as forgiving as dessert gets. The trick is the gelatine. You sprinkle it over cold water first so it can soften and swell, and only then stir it into warm milk. If you skip the soaking step, you get little rubbery specks instead of a smooth set. Once the gelatine has melted into the milk, let it cool for a few minutes before you fold in the yoghurt. Yoghurt that goes into hot liquid can turn grainy, and nobody wants that in a dessert this light.

Rosewater is the flavour that makes people stop and ask what is in it. It has a perfume-like quality that sits well against tart berries, and a little goes a long way. Use it sparingly, because too much tastes like soap. A teaspoon and a half across four servings is plenty to notice without overpowering the strawberries. If you have never used it before, taste the berries after tossing them and decide from there.

A quick word on the fruit. Frozen mixed berries work beautifully here because they release juice as they thaw, and that juice mingles with the sugar and rosewater into a sort of loose syrup. Strawberries bring the fresh, bright bite. Together they give you soft and sharp in the same spoonful. Strawberries are also a good everyday choice of fruit, with plenty of vitamin C and a naturally low sweetness that suits a mousse like this one.

Leftovers keep well for a day or two in the fridge, covered, but the berry topping is best added fresh. If you make the mousse ahead, store the berries separately so they stay glossy rather than weeping into the cream. For a lazy afternoon, spoon the mousse into a bowl and let people help themselves to the berries.

This pairs nicely with something crisp on the side. A plain shortbread biscuit or a thin almond wafer adds a bit of crunch, and a cup of mint tea finishes the meal without any fuss. If you are after a lighter breakfast-style treat, the Creamy frozen berry oat smoothie echoes the same berries in a drinkable form. For something to nibble alongside, the Warm Moroccan Spiced Nuts bring a savoury contrast that suits a fruity finish.