Since I started this blog, I haven’t written one single recipe about desserts. That has to change, of course. I have to admit that I don’t eat desserts very often. If I have to choose, then I choose appetizer instead. Choose? Why do I have to choose, you may wonder. Why not choose both?
I wish I could. I used to, but not anymore. My stomach has different opinions about how much food it’s appropriate to eat at one occasion than I have. The consensus we had about this disappeared gradually as the years passed by. My stomach has become a vengeful disobliging orc that punishes me immediately if I eat too much. The revenge can also become long-term. Three to four days is nothing unusual. So I try to live in peace with my stomach as much as possible.
But sometimes I think, ah.. what the hell, and eat that dessert. And when I do I often choose some type of Panna cotta.
Panna cotta heritage from northern Italy and means cooked cream in Italien. I have read that it used to be cooked with fish bones to let the collagen set the cream. I don’t know if it’s true, but it doesn’t matter. Because I don’t think I want to try that. Today there is gelatin which does the work for us.
Panna cotta can be varied endlessly. But most versions has one thing in common. They almost always taste damn delicious. This one is no exception.
Most of you probably know that pannacotta consists of cream that is cooked along with sugar, vanilla, and gelatin. This recipe also includes dried ground ginger. It provides an exciting, slightly hot twist. I also use muscovado sugar that has a very rich and complex taste. But that’s optional. Regular sugar will do just fine.
Usually, Panna cotta is served in ramekins with some kind of berries. I will use blueberry for this recipe. Blueberries are not just delicious. They are very healthy as well. They protect against aging, cancer, high blood pressure and other heart diseases. Blueberries are also full of antioxidants and good against urinary tract infections. That’s why Panna cotta with blueberries must qualify as health food, don’t you think?
No?
Strange, my stomach doesn’t think that either.
In Sweden, you can buy both grown and wild blueberries. I prefer the wild ones. They are smaller but taste more.
It might have been enough with Panna cotta and ripe, sweet blueberry. But I want to take this to another level by pouring some lime syrup over everything.
Together with the blueberries, it adds some sour freshness to all that cream. It’s easy to make. Cook sugar and some water to a light brown caramel. Add more water and bring to boil. Add lime juice and zest, and let it cool while the Panna cotta is setting in the fridge.
You can either serve the Panna cotta in the ramekins or try to turn it out on a serving plate. It’s not that hard. Just dip the ramekin in hot water for a few seconds and turn it upside down onto a serving plate. If it doesn’t fall out, you can try to insert a thin knife carefully between the Panna cotta and the ramekin. Spread some blueberries and pour some lime syrup over everything.
All that remains is to enjoy this Italien masterpiece. I certainly will. But first I have to do some negotiations with my stomach. Maybe if I offer not to drink any wine for two weeks. Or one.
What do you think?
Panna cotta with ginger, blueberries and lime syrup
Ingredients
Panna cotta
- 2 leaves gelatin or 3/4 tablespoon powder
- 1 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 3 tablespoon muscovado sugar or regular sugare
- 1 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon vanilla sugar or 3/4 teaspoon extract
Lime syrup
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 4 tablespoon water
- 1 lime , juice an zest
- 3 tablespoon water
Garnish
- Blueberries
Instructions
Panna cotta
- Soak gelatin leaves in cold water for 5 minutes. If you are using powder, sprinkle it over 3 tablespoons of cold water.
- Mix cream, muscovado sugar, vanilla sugar/extract, and ginger in a saucepan or pot. Bring to boil and set aside from heat. Add gelatin and stir until dissolved.
- Divide the mixture into four ramekins or coffe cups, and put them in the fridge for four hours.
Lime syrup
- Mix sugar with 4 tablespoons of water in a pot. Let it boil to a light brown caramel. Add 3 tablespoons of water and bring to boil. Add lime juice and zest and let it cool.
Garnish
- Dip the ramekins with Panna cotta in hot water and turn upside down onto serving plates, or serve them as they are. Spread blueberries and pour lime syrup over everything.
