Who doesn't know panna cotta? A dessert with a spoon of Piedmontese origin that has become a great classic loved by all for its delicate taste that allows us to combine it with the most varied garnishes. It is one of the simplest desserts in the Italian tradition, fresh to the palate and with a consistency similar to a pudding or a crème caramel.
Panna Cotta is one of the most well-known and appreciated desserts not only in Italy, but also abroad. Due to the simplicity of its preparation, its particularly delicate taste and the elegant way in which it can be plated and seasoned, it has become a classic dessert at the end of a meal, perfect for any occasion.
The precise origins of this dessert are unknown, we only know that it was born in the Langhe area of Piedmont at the beginning of the twentieth century. The preparation is really very simple, you just need to have a few tricks! All you have to do is get to the stove to make your very soft panna cotta!
Making panna cotta at home is really simple and within everyone's reach. We also need very few ingredients: fresh cream, sugar, vanilla and gelatin sheets, which will help thicken our dessert. Instead of vanilla, if you prefer, we can also use a vanilla pod.
To flavor the panna cotta you can also use the seeds of the vanilla pod or, if you prefer citrus notes you can also use lemon zest. You can add a teaspoon of bitter cocoa powder and you will get a cocoa-flavoured panna cotta.
According to the oldest Piedmontese tradition, panna cotta should be left to cool in molds lined with caramelized sugar to give more flavor to the dessert.
But this is a dessert that can really be garnished in a thousand ways, according to our tastes but also to the seasons. We can in fact create many variations of panna cotta by choosing seasonal fruit to decorate it from time to time. Any ideas? In the summer, decorate it with fresh or syrup peaches, or with apricots or watermelon.
We can either use fresh fruit in pieces, or make delicious jellies and compotes. If we prepare it in autumn or winter, a delicious and scenic idea is panna cotta with pomegranate jelly, or orange. But this dessert is also delicious with toppings such as melted chocolate, caramel, coffee or liqueurs and spirits.
The important thing, before decorating our single-serving panna cotta, is to make sure it is nice and firm and compact, otherwise the decorations risk sinking instead of remaining on the surface! Four hours of rest in the fridge are enough, but we can also prepare it in advance (for example the day before) and keep it in the fridge covered with cling film until it is time to decorate it and then enjoy it.
Let your imagination run wild when choosing the glasses in which to serve our dessert! My advice is to choose glass, whether they are glasses, cups or bowls: the visual effect will certainly be better and our panna cotta will be even more inviting.
These single portions of panna cotta are perfect for a party buffet, especially if we make an assortment of different versions. But they are also the ideal dessert to conclude a summer dinner with family or friends.
Panna cotta can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days at most, well covered with cling film, or in an airtight container.
In this recipe we will see together how to prepare in a very short time a very easy panna cotta, to decorate as we like! Today I give you the homemade panna cotta recipe, perfect as the one bought and can be ordered in the best restaurants in less than 10 minutes!
Ingredients
500 ml Fresh liquid cream
100 g sugar
4 Gelatin sheets
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preparation
Place the fresh liquid cream in a saucepan together with the sugar. Add a teaspoon of vanilla extract to the mixture and heat. Soak the gelatine sheets in cold water.
Remove the gelatine sheets from the water and squeeze them well with your hands, then place them in the hot cream and mix so that they dissolve completely.
Transfer the panna cotta mixture into the silicone molds and let cool to room temperature, then put them in the refrigerator for about two hours until completely firm.
When the panna cotta is completely cold, remove it from the molds and garnish with your favorite sauce and berries.
