In recent years, the popularity of the Italian dessert panna cotta has increased significantly. In fact, this extraordinarily delicate cream pudding made of vanilla, cream and sugar can surprise even the most demanding gourmet with its fabulous taste and unforgettable texture. Chocolate panna cotta is offered in many modern restaurants, but you can also cook such an unusual dessert at home, without too much difficulty.
Description
This unusually delicious and tender dessert is an excellent way to please your family with a unique treat. Chocolate panna cotta has a unique aroma and texture. Moreover, with this light dessert you can safely treat yourself even after a hearty dinner. Indeed, the real panna cotta has a low-calorie composition. This treat will be an excellent alternative to the usual ice cream, especially when it comes to young children.
The main component of the treat is cream. In addition to it, the classic recipe for chocolate panna cotta includes gelatin, sugar and vanilla. In addition, milk, citrus zest, juice, syrup, fruits or berries may be added to it.
The classic panna cotta has an interesting feature. At first glance, this dessert seems extremely complicated, but in reality it can be prepared in just a few minutes.
Features
Many consider panna cotta a truly whimsical treat. So, if you replace the cream with regular milk, the dough will become too watery. An excess of gelatin will give it unnecessary elasticity, and too much sugar can deprive the dessert of the necessary airiness.
Oddly enough, but cocoa powder also affects the texture of panna cotta. For a change in dessert, you can add freshly brewed coffee or melted chocolate. But from the use of fatty cocoa is best to abstain.
In addition, it is desirable to give preference to pasteurized dairy products in the process. Properly cooked panna cotta can be stored for several days.
Product Preparation
As already mentioned, the chocolate panna cotta is a very capricious treat. Her recipe requires careful selection of each ingredient.
- Gelatin. In various recipes, it is suggested to soak it in milk or water, but under any circumstances, the liquid should be extremely cold, in the worst case, at room temperature. Stir thoroughly so that the gelatin is completely dissolved.
- Vanilla. Experienced culinary experts argue that vanillin is not able to give the same effect as a fresh pod. Vanilla should be moist and soft, but not dry under any circumstances. The pod should be cut lengthwise and cleaned of seeds.
- Cream. They must have a fat content of more than 33%. Some recipes allow you to use a product with a reduced calorie content, but this is necessarily compensated by other ingredients - chocolate or condensed milk. In general, the fatter the cream, the tastier the panna cotta.
Essential Ingredients
So, if you decide to make a magical Italian dessert with your own hands, a simple recipe for chocolate panna cotta will help you. With photo tips, it will be much easier for you to create this culinary masterpiece at home.
To make a dessert you will need:
- 0.3 l of cream with a fat content of 33-35%;
- 2 tablespoons of mascarpone;
- as much gelatin;
- 70 g of dark chocolate;
- 2 tablespoons of sugar;
- the same amount of butter;
- a pinch of sea salt.
As you can see, there is nothing unusual in the composition of the chocolate panna cotta. All ingredients are extremely simple and affordable.
Chocolate panna cotta recipe with photo step by step
Step 1. Measure out 100 ml of cream and soak the prepared gelatin in them. In this form, it must be left for about 10 minutes. Do not forget to mix the mixture well.
Step 2. In the rest of the cream, add chocolate, mascarpone, a pinch of salt and all the sugar. Place the mixture in a saucepan and put on the stove, choosing medium power. Constantly stirring the mass, bring it to a boil, but in no case do not let it overheat.
Step 3. Beat the mixture with a whisk so that the chocolate has completely melted and the mass becomes homogeneous.
Step 4. Pour cream with gelatin into the hot chocolate mixture, mix again. Now strain all this using a sieve.
Step 5. Prepare the bowls or bowls, greasing them with a piece of butter. Pour the chocolate mass into containers, cover with cling film and place in the refrigerator for solidification.
Step 6. In conclusion, it remains only to decorate the cooked treats beautifully. Although this is not necessary at all, the Italian dessert looks very impressive without any additions. The design will help you with a photo of chocolate panna cotta, which depicts various variations of elegant treats. You can use virtually any product in the decoration: slices of fruit, whole berries, walnuts, hazelnuts, chocolate chips, coconut, almonds or other goodies.
Second option
To make chocolate panna cotta according to another recipe, you will need:
- 2 cups fat cream;
- half as much sugar;
- 0.5 kg of cherries;
- 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar;
- a glass of milk;
- as much port;
- 150 g of chocolate;
- 2 tablespoons of gelatin.
Action algorithm
Step 1. Dissolve gelatin in milk.
Step 2. Grate the chocolate on a coarse grater.
Step 3. Add half the sugar to the cream, put on the stove and bring to a boil. Then remove the mass from the heat and send the grated chocolate into it.
Step 4. Combine the chocolate mixture with the gelatin mass, mix thoroughly.
Step 5. Pour the mixture over the dishes and refrigerate overnight.
Step 6. Rinse the cherries, cut out the seeds from them. Then mix them with the remaining sugar, wine and vinegar. Put the mass on the stove and bring to a boil. Cook the cherry mass for 15 minutes over low heat.
Serve chilled panna cotta in combination with cooked sauce. Such an exquisite composition will not leave indifferent any gourmet.