DESSERTS,  VEGETARIAN

STRAWBERRY PANNA COTTA WITH A STRAWBERRY COULIS…the one that wouldn’t oblige!

2009/02/21 / 32 Comments
“I leave my fats for dessert.”
Bruce Mathews

strawberry+panna+cotta7

My favourite dessert of all time is a panna cotta. Panna cotta, an Italian dessert, which literally means cooked cream, is luxurious & creamy, eggless & sensual. In winter, we like a deep dark chocolate panna cotta. Come summer & I’m all for fruity flavour.

strawberry+panna+cotta

With winter on it’s last legs here, throwing up the odd cold front now & again, strawberries are flooding the market. Good fresh strawberries are available for a shortish period of time, & then they kind of perish in the heat. I made a panna cotta with strawberries the other day because I had 2 boxes in the fridge. Besides, a panna cotta tune was building up in my head!

strawberry+panna+cotta5Panna cotta is an Italian dessert made by simmering together cream, milk and sugar, mixing this with gelatin, and letting it cool until set. An Italian phrase which literally means “cooked cream”, it generally refers to a creamy, set dessert from the Northern Italian region of Piedmont. It is eaten all over Italy where it is served with wild berries, caramel, chocolate sauce or fruit coulis. strawberry+panna+cotta1

As a couple of times in the past, the panna cotta was not very obliging in nature, & didn’t want to leave it’s ‘maker‘. My attempts to dislodge it from the ramekin ended in a resounding & heart-breaking PLOP! I shovelled it back in & left it to set overnight, but to no avail. Maybe it was the strength of the gelatin, as I tried a different brand this time. If you are willing to dive into a bowl of panna cotta, rather than elegantly cutting an inverted ‘like-it-should-be’ dessert, then this is seriously good stuff. Not to be discouraged by the unset panna cotta, I served them in the ramekins eventually, topped with a delicious strawberry coulis!

Collages16PURE BLISS! The gentle caressing sweetness of the panna cotta was heightened by the sweet fruity strawberry coulis…sublime & to be made again & again, if only it didn’t use so much cream. The only thing that keeps me away from making a panna cotta often is calories! It’s the best dessert otherwise! Next in my line of vision is a Yogurt Panna Cotta that Vera @ Baking Obsession posted the other day. It has me obsessed!strawberry+panna+cotta4

STRAWBERRY PANNA COTTA with STRAWBERRY COULIS
Ingredients:
600ml cream (25% fat)
200 ml whole milk
2 1/2 tsps gelatin
200gms Strawberries; pureed & strained
1/2 cup sugar (adjust to taste)
Method:

  • Bring the cream & milk to a simmering boil over low heat, simmer for 5-7 minutes.
  • In the meantime, sprinkle the gelatin over 1/4 cup of milk, & place over hot water for gelatin to melt.
  • Take cream mixture off heat, cool slightly, & stir in strawberry puree & gelatin. Whisk well so that the gelatin is mixed uniformly. Adjust sugar if required. Strain & pour into 8 1/2 cup ramekins/ bowls (rinsed just before with cold water for easy release).
  • Chill until set for at least 4 hours, or overnight.
  • Note: Mine never released cleanly, so we ate them out of the bowls… But, O boy, was the panna cotta good or what! YUM!! Serve with strawberry coulis.
strawberry+panna+cotta6STRAWBERRY COULIS
Ingredients:
100gms Strawberries
2-3 tbsps sugar
Method:
  • Blend strawberries & strain. Add Castor sugar & adjust for sweetness. Put into pan, bring to boil, & simmer for 3-4 minutes.
  • Cool, strain & chill. Spoon over panna cotta. Leave to set, or serve immediately.
  • Note: This makes a thick coulis which sets well on top of the panna cotta. if you prefer a runnier one, boil the mixture with 2-3 tbsps of water. Cool, chill & reserve until needed. strawberry+panna+cotta10
Posted by Deeba @ PAB

About me: I am a freelance food writer, recipe developer and photographer. Food is my passion - baking, cooking, developing recipes, making recipes healthier, using fresh seasonal produce and local products, keeping a check on my carbon footprint and being a responsible foodie! I enjoy food styling, food photography, recipe development and product reviews. I express this through my food photographs which I style and the recipes I blog. My strength lies in 'Doing Food From Scratch'; it must taste as good as it looks, and be healthy too. Baking in India, often my biggest challenge is the non-availability of baking ingredients, and this has now become a platform to get creative on. I enjoy cooking immensely as well.

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32 Comments

  • Laurie

    2009/02/21 at 4:41 pm Reply

    Deeba you are the queen of beauty.. you really are!!
    This panne cotta looks scrumptious and I love the heart decor! 🙂

  • Elra

    2009/02/21 at 4:42 pm Reply

    Utterly irresistible! you know how much I like dessert combine with fruit.
    Have a wonderful week end Deeba!
    Elra

  • Snooky doodle

    2009/02/21 at 8:18 pm Reply

    this looks delicious ! and nice too . i really like it. photos amazinh as usual 🙂

  • Superchef

    2009/02/21 at 9:02 pm Reply

    im soo in the mood for a panna cotta now…u r the best, Deeba!! u just know how to make people crave!! 😀

  • Soma

    2009/02/21 at 9:08 pm Reply

    Thanks for visiting me Deepa. The act is that I visit you quite often:-) to browse ur lovely recipes!!

    I have made pannacotta just once.. I am not a “sweet” person:-) This looks so divine. I do like desserts with fruits in it.. this one is saved for summer time. Love ur pcitures.

  • Preety

    2009/02/21 at 9:08 pm Reply

    love your pics always..sometimes after seeing the pics i start thinking that is it possible to make something so beautiful…:):)

  • Reeni♥

    2009/02/22 at 1:53 am Reply

    How gorgeous! I am so ready for warmer weather to be here so I can enjoy delicious desserts like this! So pretty!

  • Rachel

    2009/02/22 at 3:37 am Reply

    All I can say is wow..anytime I make a pannacotta..it decides to stay put in the ramekin..and I try dislodging and it ends up in a mess…

  • Hanaâ

    2009/02/22 at 6:16 am Reply

    The panna cotta looks very creamy and delicious. I love my creme brulee but maybe I should try this non-bake counterpart. Thanks for sharing the recipe!

  • Lorraine @NotQuiteNigella

    2009/02/22 at 11:07 pm Reply

    There’s always a moment of panic for me when I try and unmould a pannacotta or jelly. Yours looks magnificent! You wouldn’t know that it wouldn’t behave! 🙂

  • lisa (dandysugar)

    2009/02/23 at 5:11 pm Reply

    Deeba, what a gorgeous panna cotta! It’s so velvety and divine..almost too pretty to eat! I just love the deep red color of the coulis. Gorgeousness.

  • lisa (dandysugar)

    2009/02/23 at 5:11 pm Reply

    Deeba, what a gorgeous panna cotta! It’s so velvety and divine..almost too pretty to eat! I just love the deep red color of the coulis. Gorgeousness.

  • Olga

    2009/02/23 at 11:22 pm Reply

    I don’t think I’ve ever tried this dessert, but how can anything with cream be bad?

    Your photos are beautiful as always.

  • Olga

    2009/02/23 at 11:22 pm Reply

    I don’t think I’ve ever tried this dessert, but how can anything with cream be bad?

    Your photos are beautiful as always.

  • Akal's Saappadu

    2009/02/24 at 11:05 am Reply

    beutiful pictures as usual and i love pannacottas of any kinds, find it so simple and elegant and no fussy dessert!

  • Akal's Saappadu

    2009/02/24 at 11:05 am Reply

    beutiful pictures as usual and i love pannacottas of any kinds, find it so simple and elegant and no fussy dessert!

  • Dimpy

    2009/02/24 at 11:57 am Reply

    Hi, I´m one of your hidden fans, I love all your recipes(I´ve tried many, all perfect), but these last two recipes are just perfect, it´s like you´ve been reading my mind…so I had to leave a comment…thank you so much for sharing ….besitos(kisses)in spanish

  • Dimpy

    2009/02/24 at 11:57 am Reply

    Hi, I´m one of your hidden fans, I love all your recipes(I´ve tried many, all perfect), but these last two recipes are just perfect, it´s like you´ve been reading my mind…so I had to leave a comment…thank you so much for sharing ….besitos(kisses)in spanish

  • Vera

    2009/02/25 at 6:34 am Reply

    Deeba, dear, thank you for mentioning my post! Your panna cotta is so pretty, so summery! I envy your abundance of strawberries!

  • Proud Italian Cook

    2009/02/26 at 5:05 am Reply

    Art you can eat! How lucky your family is. Deeba, you truly are the queen of panna cotta!!

  • Nicisme

    2009/02/27 at 4:55 pm Reply

    How did I miss this???
    OMG, I would love to slurp this right up – did you know that I have an extra long tongue?
    I hope that is chocolate and not tree bark on the side, got any left for me?

Thank you so much for stopping by. I'd love to hear from you.

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