panna cotta with chocolate dirt

panna cotta… think of it as italian jello. it’s usually topped with fruit or berries. but we decided to get creative and resourceful by topping it with our “chocolate dirt”.  this dirt was actually a result of a batch of chocolate buttered cookies gone wrong. so rather than tossing it in the trash, we kept it, hoping it can be used one day. well my friends, that day has come. the chocolate dirt gives a crunchy textural contrast to the creamy soft panna cotta.

serves 4

panna cotta

heavy cream 2 cups (480 ml)
sugar 1/8 cup (30 g)
vanilla extract 1 tsp
powdered gelatin 2 tsp
cold water 3 tbsp

• in a saucepan, heat heavy cream on medium heat to a mild boil
• dissolve sugar in the heavy cream
• remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract
• let the gelatin sit in the cold water for at least 10 min
• pour the warm cream into the gelatin, stir until the gelatin is completely dissolved
• divide the panna cotta mixture into 8 small glasses
• chill them for at least 2 hours until firm

chocolate dirt

unsalted butter, melted, 1 cup (200 g)
icing sugar 1/4 cup (50 g)
plain flour 3/4 cup (150 g)
cornstarch 1/4 cup (50 g)
chocolate powder 1/4 cup (50 g)

• preheat oven 300 F (150 C)
• mix butter and icing sugar in large bowl
• sift plain flour, cornstarch and chocolate powder into the butter mixture, 1/3 at a time
• mix until smooth
• spoon or use a pastry bag to pipe cookie dough on baking sheets
• bake for 25-30 min. until the the surface of the cookies have stopped bubbling
• let cookies cool on sheets for at least 5 min
• put them in a bag and crush them into “dirt” with a spoon

combining the two

• remove panna cotta from fridge
• cover the set panna cotta with generous amount of chocolate dirt
• decorate with mint or a flower

pour the warm cream mixture into the gelatin, whisk continuously

use a fork to break the bubbles or move them to the sides for better appearance

melted, icing sugar, all-purpose flour

pipe cookie dough onto a tray

“chocolate cookies”

put the chocolate cookies into a bag, crush them into “dirt” with a spoon

the most delectable pot on earth

commentaries

priscilla:

if you want to make panna cotta on it’s own, then skip the chocolate dirt part. just remember to butter the molds before pouring the cream mixture so the panna cotta comes out easily onto a plate instead of staying in the mold.

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