Strawberry Panna Cotta with strawberry puree and hints of earl grey tea to make the perfect cold dessert that requires no baking.
Autumn may not be my favorite season but there are a few things I associate with this time of the year that I absolutely love and look forward to. When I first moved to Sydney, the things that charmed me most were the farms and the farmer’s markets. Which is funny considering Sydney has so so much to offer. I had lived a city life before that and I was moving to another happening city. As I gradually explored around the city I found myself being more drawn to the country side, the lush green fields and the fresh produce farms. That way Sydney offers the best of both worlds. A modern city with glamorous beaches and a beautiful country side. On weekends, visiting farms to pick fruits and going to a different farmers’ market became a ritual. Something I can never grow tired of. A habit that my boys have embraced with open arms. The apple orchards are my favorite and I was thrilled when I got the opportunity to adopt a little tree a couple of years back. We picked car loads of apples and for months I did not buy a single apple from the shops. Now, it’s apple season. Time to go back and the boys are already counting down till the long weekend.
This time we will be accompanied by friends and picnic gear. We hope to spend the day picking apples and peaches and having lunch under the color changing leaves of Mount Wilson. I am planning on baking a large cake or maybe cakes to take to the picnic but I also wanted to make a simple dessert to keep at home for guests. Panna Cotta is a perfect dessert to make ahead with a few ingredients and not much effort. The beauty of this dessert is that it can be flavored with literally anything and the choices are endless. I infused the cream here with an earl grey teabag and blended it with freshly pureed strawberries. Along with a slight hint of bergamot from the tea, the strawberry panna cotta dessert tastes like a creamy strawberry mousse with subtle citrus notes. Except that it has no eggs and is certainly not rich like mousse.
I hope you guys have a fun and delicious Easter. I can’t wait to share my apple picking adventures with you over the weekend.
Strawberry Panna Cotta With Earl Grey
Serves 3
1 cup thickened cream
1 cup + 1/4 cup +2 tbsp milk
1 earl grey tea bag
21/2 tsp powdered gelatine
400 g fresh strawberries, hulled and roughly chopped
6 tbsp castor sugar
whipped cream, to serve
Soak gelatine in 2 tbsp milk to bloom. Warm the cream and 1 cup milk together with the Earl Grey teabag. Once the mixture comes to a a boil, remove from heat and leave aside for 20 minutes to infuse the flavor.
Place the strawberries, sugar and 1/4 cup milk in the bowl of your food processor. Process till smooth. Keep aside.
Remove the tea bag. Warm the milk-cream mixture just slightly, add the bloomed gelatine and mix. Add the strawberry puree and mix till smooth. Pour the mixture into serving glasses. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or until set.
Serve with whipped cream and finely ground pistachios.
You know that’s one thing I rue about the big cities here in India.. we don’t have too many easy outdoor options to escape away to! I have always wanted to add tea to my desserts.. haven’t really got around it.. should do it soon! Beautiful styling as always..
Thanks Sarvani! Earl grey is beautiful, hope you try it:-)
I love this season. It’s getting cooler, it’s Easter holidays and I get to try your new recipe for panna cotta. Does it get better than this?
Thanks Maureen! It’s certainly getting cooler. I hope you had a great Easter break:-)
Enjoy the apple picking and picnic! Sounds like great plans. Must be great to have these lovely desserts waiting back home! I love the color and flavor combination. I’d dearly love to try strawberry panna cotta but first, I’d spend a good long time admiring just how pretty it is!
The desserts didn’t last that long…can you believe it? No panna cottas to come back to but then there’s always something sweet at home:-) Thanks so much Monica.
Once again – you have inspired me! Gorgeous pictures of that beautiful strawberry confection. I could stare at them all day! While I was at Blackberry Farm, they served Clementine Panna Cotta in the mornings for breakfast! I must try making it myself! Susan @ Romancing the Home
Thank you so much Susan. How I’d love a clementine Panna Cotta for breakfast…have to make one myself. Sounds amazing!
Autumn in Australia and spring here in the US. Two of my fave seasons…
What a perfect dessert to celebrate spring her… and also Easter. I have to try to use grey salt in my fruit desserts next time.
Wishing you a very Happy Easter, my dear Sonali! xx
Thanks so much Denise! I hope you had a great Easter break:-)
Until now it was a chilly,snowy winter in our part of the world…now that it is summer we miss the chills,the rising heat makes us crave cool,sweet treats…this creamy,fruity,vibrant panna cotta will make days cool and pleasant,beautiful food clicks,recipes and Have A Happy Picnic! 🙂
I love spring and summer but it’s a long wait. Hope you have a lovely summer season. Thanks Kumar:-)
Someday I hope I will be out picnicking with you 😛 How fun would that be to meet up over a cup of coffee & cake (s). Meanwhile, I am just going to admire your photos & drooling over your panna cotta from afar.
xoxo
Me too Pang! That would be happy days…thinking about it makes me smile:-) Thanks my dear!
: D
Your panna cotta looks refreshing and delicious, and with such a good flavour 🙂
Perfect for this weather!
Happy Easter!
Choc Chip Uru
Thanks Uru! I hope you had a great Easter break:-)
Wow, what an amazing combination…earl grey and strawberries…all in a creamy panna cotta…very pretty and elegant as always.
Mmmm, panna cotta!!! Earl gray, my favorite!!!!
Hello, hello!
I so love your recipes, photos and stories. I realize this is an older post but am hoping you can clarify one ingredient for me.
I am in America. I have access to heavy cream, whipping cream, sour cream etc but not thickened cream. I know it has some extra ingredients and/or a different preparation. Do you have any recommendations on where to find it, how to make it or a good substitution for those of us without easy access?
Many thanks!
Hi Julie, lovely to hear from you. Thank you heaps for your kind words. You could easily substitute with heavy cream for this recipe if thickened cream is not available. We just want to add a bit of creaminess to the panna cotta. This is a versatile recipe, so basically any kind of milk/cream should work. Hope this helps!