
Panna Cotta Recipe | How to make Panna Cotta
Panna Cotta is an Italian dessert made with milk and cream. This easy and delicious panna cotta recipe is made without gelatin and thus a vegetarian version of panna cotta. To set the dessert agar agar is used instead of gelatin.
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole milk
- 2 cups light cream or low-fat cream (20 to 30% fat), swap easily with 2 cups of whipping or heavy cream
- ½ cup sugar or add as required
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract or 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
- 2 tablespoons agar agar strands - finely chopped
- ⅓ cup hot water
Instructions
- Do note that both the agar agar solution and the cream mixture should be hot when mixed with each other. So cook both simultaneously.
Making agar agar liquid
- First take the 2 tablespoons finely chopped agar agar strands in a small sauce pan. Do cut the agar agar strands in small or tiny pieces.
- Add hot water.
- Mix and let the agar agar strands soak in hot water for 5 minutes.
- Then keep the agar agar and water mixture on a low heat. Keep on stirring the agar agar solution and let it cook till the agar agar strands are dissolved.
- Continue to stir often when cooking this solution.
- Switch off the heat when all the agar agar strands have dissolved. You will see a clear solution.
Making vanilla panna cotta mixture
- Meanwhile mix the light cream (or whipping or heavy cream) and whole milk in a pan or saucepan.
- Add sugar.
- Keep the saucepan on the stovetop on a low to low-medium heat. Stir with a wired whisk. The sugar should dissolve completely.
- Keep on stirring at intervals while the cream mixture comes to a gentle boil.
- The mixture should just come to a gentle boil. Then turn off the heat.
- Add the vanilla extract. If using vanilla essence, then add 1 teaspoon of it. Mix very well.
- Now add the hot agar agar liquid to the hot cream and milk mixture. Both the agar agar solution and the cream mixture should be hot when you mix them.
- Mix again very well with a wired whisk.
Setting panna cotta
- Pour the hot panna cotta mixture in bowls. If you plan to unmould the panna cotta, then grease the bowls with some neutral tasting oil like sunflower oil.
- Cover the bowls with aluminium foil or lids. When the panna cotta mixture becomes warm or comes to room temperature, then place the bowls in the fridge to set for 4 to 5 hours or overnight.
- After setting, the panna cotta will have a gentle wobble on it. Serve Panna Cotta once it is set as is or topped with your favorite fruits or berries or drizzled with a fruit sauce or coulis.
Notes
Liquids Temperature: Both the agar agar solution and the cream mixture should be hot when you mix them. In case one of them cools or becomes warm, follow these instructions:
For agar agar – on cooling the agar agar sets and becomes gelatinous, so add some hot water and reheat it with continuous stirring. You can also use a hot water bath. For the cream mixture – gently reheat this mixture on a low flame till its hot.
- For agar agar – on cooling the agar agar sets and becomes gelatinous, so add some hot water and reheat it with continuous stirring. You can also use a hot water bath.
- For the cream mixture – gently reheat this mixture on a low flame till its hot.
- Cream: Instead of light cream, feel free to make panna cotta with whipping cream or heavy cream.
- Sweetness: Adjust the amount of sugar as needed.
- Setting Time: Let the panna cotta set completely before you serve it. Depending on your fridge settings it can take 4 to 5 hours or 9 to 12 hours for it to set.
- Vegan option: For a vegan version of panna cotta, use coconut cream and almond milk.
- Agar agar: The amount of agar agar used in the recipe will give you a panna cotta that sets nicely and is firm. So this is best served in a bowl or a small dessert glass. If you want to unmould and serve then I would suggest adding 3 tablespoons chopped agar agar strands instead of 2 tablespoons as mentioned in the recipe.
- Scaling: The recipe can be halved or doubled.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 392
% Daily Value*
Calories | 392kcal | 20% |
Carbohydrates | 23g | 8% |
Protein | 4g | 8% |
Fat | 32g | 49% |
Saturated Fat | 20g | 100% |
Cholesterol | 117mg | 39% |
Sodium | 66mg | 3% |
Potassium | 167mg | 4% |
Sugar | 21g | 42% |
Vitamin A | 1298IU | 26% |
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) | 1mg | |
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) | 1mg | |
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | 1mg | |
Vitamin B6 | 1mg | |
Vitamin B12 | 1µg | 42% |
Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
Vitamin D | 2µg | 10% |
Vitamin E | 1mg | |
Vitamin K | 3µg | |
Calcium | 143mg | 14% |
Vitamin B9 (Folate) | 7µg | |
Magnesium | 14mg | 4% |
Phosphorus | 118mg | |
Zinc | 1mg |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.