-
Preparation
5 minutes
-
Processing
20 minutes
-
Difficulty
Easy
The smoothness and rich aroma of panna cotta must have captivated you from the very first try. However, do you know how to make a delicious basic Italian panna cotta? Today, TasteVN will show you how to make the authentic flavor of this dessert. Let’s get into the kitchen right away!
Ingredients for Basic Panna Cotta For 4 cakes
Heavy cream 480 ml Gelatin 1 sheet Vanilla extract 1 teaspoon Dried vanilla 1 pod Dark rum 1 tablespoon (Dark rum) Sugar 2.5 tablespoons
What is Heavy Cream? Distinguishing Heavy Cream and Whipping Cream
What is Heavy Cream?
Heavy cream is a dairy product, also known as heavy milk cream. Heavy cream is often used in baking or mixing. It has a thick cream texture, easy to maintain shape when whipped, and has a high sharpness.
How to Distinguish Heavy Cream and Whipping Cream
- Fat content: Heavy cream is a dairy cream with a fat content of 36 – 40%, while Whipping cream is known as a type of fresh cream with a fat content of 30 – 36% and contains no sugar.
- Texture: Heavy cream has a firmer whipped texture than Whipping cream.
- Heavy cream is widely used for whipping cream, baking, etc., while Whipping cream is often used for mixing drinks or as an ingredient for certain types of pastries.
What is gelatin? Where to buy it?
- Gelatin is a food ingredient extracted from collagen found in the bones and skin of animals (for example, pig skin). Gelatin is an odorless protein (though sensitive individuals may detect a slight odor), tasteless, but it can be either clear or slightly yellow in color.
- There are 2 common forms of gelatin: sheet and powder, with the same quality. Note that if using gelatin powder, it’s 6 grams of gelatin powder + 250ml of liquid; if using gelatin sheets, it’s 3 sheets of gelatin + 250ml of liquid.
- You can buy gelatin at baking supply stores, supermarkets, or online on e-commerce websites.
Where to buy dark rum?
You can find dark rum at stores specializing in Western liquor; additionally, you can also buy it at stores selling baking ingredients, desserts, or cocktail ingredients. Furthermore, you can check reputable e-commerce websites where it is also available for sale!
How to make basic Panna cotta
-
Soak gelatin
Soak 1 sheet of gelatin in 80ml of cold water for 5 – 10 minutes to soften.
-
Cook the cream mixture
First, use a knife to make a slit on the dry vanilla pod, then continue to scrape the knife to extract the vanilla seeds inside.
Place a pot on the stove, add 480ml of heavy cream, 2.5 tablespoons of sugar, the seeds from 1 dry vanilla pod, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
Stir the mixture over medium heat until it boils, then turn off the heat. Next, squeeze the excess water from the gelatin leaves and add them to the pot along with 1 tablespoon of dark rum, stirring again to combine the mixture.
Finally, strain the mixture through a sieve for a smooth consistency.
-
Pour into molds and chill the panna cotta
Pour the cooked cream mixture into molds, then place them in the refrigerator for 1 – 2 hours to set.
-
Completion
Finally, you flip the mold upside down onto a plate, gently shake to release the panna cotta, and decorate with a bit of cherry jam for enjoyment.
Tip: You can enjoy panna cotta plain or paired with various fruit jams according to your preference, such as mango jam, peach jam, blueberry jam,…
-
Final Product
The basic panna cotta is smooth, wobbly with a light sweetness, and richness from fresh cream, along with the distinct aroma of pure vanilla and a slightly sour, fragrant hint of dark rum that is incredibly appealing.
This dessert is delicious on its own, but if you want to enhance the flavor, you can serve it with a bit of sour fruit jam!
What is Panna cotta?
- Panna Cotta (in Italian means “cooked cream”) is a dessert made from a mixture of cream, milk, sugar, and gelatin.
- The first recipe for Panna Cotta originated in Northern Italy, where people used to set a mixture of cream and fish bones (the collagen in fish bones would thicken the cream) to create this pudding-like dessert. However, as the baking industry developed, they began using gelatin to make Panna Cotta, resulting in a dessert with a smooth texture that melts in your mouth.
If you want a sweet, creamy, and smooth dessert that is very simple to make, check out the basic Italian panna cotta recipe that TasteVN introduced above. Let’s make it right away, and good luck!
