Skip to main content

Vanilla Panna Cotta - Smooth and creamy Italian dessert



It was in a TV reality show, called Masterchef Australia, that I first saw a dessert called panna cotta. Then later at an Italian restaurant, here in Bangalore, is when I tasted it. It looked so simple and pretty....and it tasted heavenly. And from then on, panna cotta has been my all time favourite dessert.

 A spoonful of panna cotta is remarkably creamy, melting in the mouth without a trace of grittiness or lumps. Panna cotta is a very basic pudding that is made of dairy thickened with gelatin. It originated in Italy and its name literally means "cooked cream". You can eat it straight out of a cup, but it's often unmolded onto a plate and drizzled with sweet sauce and garnished with fruit. 

 It is not known exactly how or when this dessert came to be, but some theories suggest that cream, for which mountainous Northern Italy is famous, was historically eaten plain or sweetened with fruit or hazelnuts. The earliest recipes mention simmering the cream with fish bones (the collagen would set the cream). 

 Today panna cotta is almost invariably made with gelatin, which gives it a smooth mouthfeel and a melt-in-the-mouth texture. You can substitute the gelatin with Agar Agar or China Grass for a vegetarian version. 

 But you can create a wide spectrum of taste and richness depending on the type of dairy used. The cream  may be aromatized with rum, coffee, vanilla, or other flavorings. You can also make it using coconut milk or almond milk.

 So here's the recipe:

 Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups cream
1 1/2 cups mIlk 
1/2 cup sugar
1 vanilla bean pod (or 2 tsp vanilla extract)
2 1/2 teaspoons gelatin

 Method:
Place the cream and milk in a saucepan. Use a small sharp knife to split the vanilla bean lengthwise, then scrape the seeds from inside the bean. 
Add the seeds and bean to the saucepan. Slowly bring to the boil over a medium heat. Remove from the heat and set aside for 10 minutes. 
Discard bean from cream mixture. Add sugar and return to a low heat. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes, or until sugar dissolves.
Place 2 tablespoons of boiling water in a small heatproof bowl. Sprinkle over gelatin. Bring a small saucepan of water to boil. Remove from heat. 
Sit the bowl of gelatin in the water and stir until dissolved. Cool slightly, then stir into the cream mixture.
The panna cotta mixture is ready.
Once the mixture is completely smooth, pour it in your desired glasses or ramekins. Refrigerate until fully set; 4 to 6 hours.

 When it is time to serve, dip the panna cotta moulds, one at a time, into a heatproof bowl half-filled with hot water. Leave for about 5 seconds. Invert onto a serving plate. Carefully remove the mould from the panna cotta to serve. It goes well with fresh seasonal fruits. For me, strawberries are a perfect match.

 This is a make-ahead dessert perfect for entertaining! 
Serve it in wine glasses at your next dinner party, or in tiny shot glasses for a larger gathering. It’s very easy and quick to make at home.....it takes just about 20-25 minutes before refrigeration.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Triple Chocolate mousse

They say that no matter how old you become, when you are with your siblings, you revert back to your childhood. Growing up with my kid brother was one of the best adventures of my life. We’ve laughed over the silliest of things, fought for the tv remote almost everyday, we played as a team in home video games of Contra and Mario, watched the same movies over and over again and enjoyed the food during our every trip to the Gulf. He was my first “Foodie Buddy”. Years have passed by, and now when we are living in different continents, amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we still connect over food in our conversations of what we used to eat in the past and what we relish today. Growing up, we didn’t have big celebrations during birthdays with cakes and parties…didn’t feel the need then…but today, we look forward to celebrate any occasion. So, whether we’re near or far, birthdays and anniversaries we celebrate for each other wherever geographically we are. While my kid brother ce...
Post a Comment
Read more

Kannur - it's about the beaches, sunsets, malabar cuisine & more....

Kerala is my native land. I'm a Malayalee by birth..... but, I grew up in Bangalore. I've stayed all my life in Bangalore. Going to Kerala was either to meet my grandparents during school vacations or to attend some family functions and get togethers. But none of those times did I ever have a chance to actually sight see this state known as "God's own country". It was after we got married that Mr. Peter has taken me to different places in Kerala, like Munnar, Alappuzha, Kochi, Calicut and Kannur. All of these places are wonderful and each has its own distinctiveness. Kannur is located in the northern part of Kerala. Cannanore is the old English name for this city. Kannur is known as the Land of Looms And Lore, because of the loom industries functioning in the district and the ritualistic folk arts held in temples. Kannur is famous for three main things....its beautiful beaches, Theyyam - its native performing art, and its handloom industry. Mr. Pe...
Post a Comment
Read more

Red Velvet Cupcakes

  Red velvet cupcakes There is something really elegant about red velvet cupcakes. They just look so cool and they taste awesome, especially when covered with a nice homemade cream cheese frosting. Velvet cake is thought to have originated in USA in the early 20th century. During WWII,  soldiers and civilians had to ration off food and supplies. Baking products like sugar and butter were a part of the rations. As a result, some bakers chose to use beet juice in their cakes. Beet was and is used in some recipes as a filler or to retain moisture. The red color of the beets makes the cake have a more delicious appeal. However, not only do the beets make the cake pretty, but they also make the cake soft. These days, most have steered away from beets in their red velvet cake recipe, and instead opt for red food coloring to give the cake vibrancy. In recent years, red velvet cake and red velvet cupcakes have become increasingly popular in the US and many countries, especially a...
Post a Comment
Read more