Panna cotta means "cooked cream" in Italian and is a very adaptable recipe; it can be flavored with just about anything. If you want to leave out the cocoa powder from this recipe, you can add some vanilla bean and have vanilla panna cotta. Or add a touch of honey or a little pureed blueberries. You really can flavor it any way you like.
When you cook this, be sure to gently heat the mixture. Do not let it boil. Make sure all the sugar has dissolved before removing it from the heat.
When you cook this, be sure to gently heat the mixture. Do not let it boil. Make sure all the sugar has dissolved before removing it from the heat.
Chocolate Panna Cotta
Makes enough for 6 large panna cottas or 12 small ramekins, with some leftover.
1 1/2 cups whole milk
4 teaspoons unflavored powdered gelatin
4 1/2 cups heavy cream
Good quality cocoa powder, 2 to 4 tablespoons
3/4 cup sugar
Pinch of salt
Chocolate and white chocolate bars, for garnish
Put the milk in a medium saucepan and sprinkle the gelatin over the milk. Let it stand for about 5 minutes to soften. Turn heat to medium and stir milk just until the gelatin dissolves.
Add the cream, sugar and salt. Whisk in the cocoa powder until you get the amount of chocolate you like. Whisk over low heat until the sugar completely dissolves, just a few minutes.
Remove from the heat and let cool completely. (ihavenet.com pour the mixture into a 6-cup Pyrex to cool.) Stir mixture frequently during cooling to prevent skin from forming. Pour the cream mixture into 6 martini glasses or into a dozen small ramekins.
Cover and refrigerate. Chill until set.
With a vegetable peeler, shave small chocolate curls from each of the chocolate bars onto the panna cotta.
Can be made the day before.
Put the milk in a medium saucepan and sprinkle the gelatin over the milk. Let it stand for about 5 minutes to soften. Turn heat to medium and stir milk just until the gelatin dissolves.
Add the cream, sugar and salt. Whisk in the cocoa powder until you get the amount of chocolate you like. Whisk over low heat until the sugar completely dissolves, just a few minutes.
Remove from the heat and let cool completely. (ihavenet.com pour the mixture into a 6-cup Pyrex to cool.) Stir mixture frequently during cooling to prevent skin from forming. Pour the cream mixture into 6 martini glasses or into a dozen small ramekins.
Cover and refrigerate. Chill until set.
With a vegetable peeler, shave small chocolate curls from each of the chocolate bars onto the panna cotta.
Can be made the day before.
