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Vegetarian Panna Cotta with Agar-Agar – vegetarian recipe
Stav Kogan

Vegetarian Panna Cotta with Agar-Agar

Transport yourself to Italy with this simple, elegant, and completely vegetarian-friendly Panna Cotta. Using agar-agar instead of gelatin, this recipe achieves the classic silky wobble without any animal products. It's a luxuriously smooth, delicately sweet dessert that's perfect
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 4 hours 35 minutes
Servings: 5 serving
Calories: 260
Ingredients Method Nutrition

Ingredients
  

  • 1/4 cup (60 ml) warm water
  • 1 envelope (about 2 tsp / 7g / 0.25 oz) agar-agar powder
  • 1 1/2 cups (360 ml) heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup (50 g / 1.76 oz) granulated sugar
  • 2 tsp (10 ml) vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup (180 ml) whole milk
  • Fresh seasonal fruit or berry coulis, for serving (optional)
  • For a richer vanilla flavor, use a whole vanilla bean. Split the bean lengthwise, scrape out the seeds, and add both the pod and seeds to the cream as it heats. Remove the pod before pouring the mixture into ramekins.
  • Infuse your cream with other flavors like citrus zest, lavender, or a cinnamon stick. Simply add them during the heating step and strain the mixture before adding the agar-agar.
  • The key to a perfect panna cotta is a delicate wobble. Be careful not to use too much agar-agar, which can result in a firm, rubbery texture. Stick to the recipe for the best results.

Method
 

  1. In a small bowl, sprinkle the agar-agar powder over the warm water.
  2. Whisk to combine and let it stand for 5 minutes to bloom.
  3. In a medium saucepan, combine the heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla extract.
  4. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil over medium heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar.
  5. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 2-3 minutes.
  6. Stir in the milk and the bloomed agar-agar mixture.
  7. Continue to simmer for another 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly to ensure the agar-agar is fully dissolved.
  8. Remove the saucepan from the heat. To cool the mixture quickly, you can place the saucepan in a larger bowl filled with ice water, stirring for about 15 minutes until it's lukewarm.
  9. Carefully pour the mixture into five 4-ounce ramekins or custard cups.
  10. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight, until fully set.
  11. To serve, briefly dip the bottom of each ramekin in hot water. Run a thin knife around the edge to loosen, then invert onto a serving plate.
  12. Garnish with fresh fruit or coulis and enjoy!
  13. Don't let the mixture boil vigorously after adding the agar-agar, as this can weaken its setting power. A gentle, consistent simmer is all you need.

Nutrition

Calories: 260kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 3gFat: 22g

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