Classic vanilla panna cotta is a simple and light dessert to finish off a heavy meal. In this recipe, we’ll pair it with a red berry sauce which will add both sweetness and tartness.
If you are unfamiliar with panna cotta, you may be familiar with its cousin flan. Flan originated in Rome centuries ago as a cream custard thickened with egg. Much more recently, in the Piedmont region, the desert is thickened with gelatin instead (which is why it isn’t yellow in color, among other differences).
Modifications
- Vanilla is a common flavoring for the cooked cream, but you can also try it with coffee
- There are many, many different sauces/toppings you could pair with the vanilla panna cotta – Blueberry, orange, passionfruit, papaya would all be great. Or, you could try chocolate shavings with a coffee-flavored panna cotta
Panna Cotta alla Vaniglia con Salsa ai Frutti Rossi
July 1, 2017
: 4
: 40 min
: 40 min
: Easy
<strong>Note:</strong> The panna cotta requires 4 - 5 hrs in the fridge to set
Ingredients
- 16 oz (500 ml) Fresh cream
- 1 Packet of gelatin
- 1/2 Vanilla bean with seeds
- 4 oz (110 g) Raspberries
- 4 oz (110 g) Fresh currants
- 6 oz (170 g) Strawberries
- 6 tbs (75 g) Caster sugar (may substitute granulated)
- 1 1/2 c (190 g) Confectionery sugar
- 1/2 Juice from medium lemon
Directions
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Step 1
Select ingredients. If fresh currants are not available, add an additional 2 oz of strawberry and 2 oz of raspberry. Caster sugar is white sugar with a consistency halfway between confectionery and granulated sugar. You can make your own by pulsing granulated sugar 5 to 10 times in a blender. Be sure to stop before it becomes powdered.
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Step 2
Cut the vanilla bean length-wise, extract the seeds and dissolve them in the cream in a saucepan, together with the caster or confectionery sugar (to concentrate the taste, add the vanilla bean).
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Step 3
Bring the compound to a boil and, once the sugar is dissolved, sprinkle the gelatin and mix thoroughly.
-
Step 4
Pour the mixture into aluminum foil or silicone molds and let it rest in the refrigerator until it has solidified (at least 4-5 hours).
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Step 5
Make a smooth sauce from the berries, confectionary sugar, and lemon juice by blending with an immersion blender or a handheld beater.
- Step 6 Pour some berry sauce on the bottom of a serving dish. Place the panna cotta on the berry sauce. Garnish with a small mint sprig and a strawberry.
source: Lorenzovinci.it
Video in Italian, but helpful to guide preparation.
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