DESSERTS

MAKE MINE COFFEE with chocolate…ALLURING PANNA COTTA ESPRESSO!

“Fervet olla, vivit amicitia: While the pot boils, friendship endures.”
(Meaning the man who gives good dinners has plenty of friends).
Latin Proverb

IMG 3973 Living my coffee dreams…with some chocolate too!

My dream run in the kitchen continues…I’m lucky to have moulded family tastes to quite an extent that coffee is lapped up in any dessert avatar. As I mentioned the last time I made panna cotta, the delectable strawberry coulis delight, it wouldn’t be long before I made it again. Sure enough, the next time I had to make dessert, it was right back to my favourite, new Italian discovery! This time I hit the coffee trail with some chocolate ganache. Mmmmmmm…wait; then it got even better… added some freshly made almond praline to crown the glory. Incredibly alluring, deeply satisfying, silky smooth…in one word ambrosial’ !!

IMG 3948 Sublime & satisfying!!
For the panna cotta:
Cream – 400ml
Whole Milk – 1 cup
Sugar – 1/2 cup
Instant Coffee – 2 tbsp (acc to taste)
Gelatin – 1 1/2 tbsps
Water – 1/4 cup/warm
Digestive biscuits – 200gms / crushed
collage To make the panna cotta:
  • Steep the coffee in 1/4 cup of the hot whole milk for 10-15 minutes to intensify the flavour.
  • Combine the cream + remaining milk + sugar + coffee milk & simmer till it comes to a slow boil.
  • In the meantime, warm the 1/4 cup water & sprinkle the gelatin over it & leave to soften.
  • Take the milk/cream mixture off the heat. Whisk in the gelatin, strain & rest for 10-15 minutes.
  • Take the serving bowls & line the bottoms with 2 tbsps of biscuit crumbs each, followed by a drizzle of ganache.
  • Gently top each bowl with the coffee panna cotta. Chill for about 30 minutes, then top each bowl with some ganache, almond praline & finally a drizzle of melted dark chocolate.
  • Leave to set/chill for 4 hours minimum.

collage

To make the praline:

  • Place a handful of whole almonds + a knob of butter + 2 tbsps of sugar in a bowl, & heat till the sugar starts bubbling & carmelizes.
  • Turn onto a metal/steel plate & allow to cool. Break into a few whole almond bits, & roughly crush the remaining for the topping. Tastes really nice!

IMG 3969

Luscious dessert…

IMG 3941 There’s a ‘delicious new food event’ on at Marie’s of “Proud Italian Cook” and Mary Ann’s of “Fiding La Dolce Vita” … FESTA ITALIANA… party’s on!!
festy+italianaAs Marie & Mary Ann say…One by one our friends are arriving, each one carrying their favorite Italian dish or drink. We eat and drink with happy hearts and before long, the guitars and accordions are filling the air with song. Everyone is eating, drinking, laughing, singing and dancing. This dessert is heading for the party. A sweet, sublime way to finish a hearty meal. Friends, food & laughter…ENJOY!!

About me: I am a freelance food writer, recipe developer and photographer. Food is my passion - baking, cooking, developing recipes, making recipes healthier, using fresh seasonal produce and local products, keeping a check on my carbon footprint and being a responsible foodie! I enjoy food styling, food photography, recipe development and product reviews. I express this through my food photographs which I style and the recipes I blog. My strength lies in 'Doing Food From Scratch'; it must taste as good as it looks, and be healthy too. Baking in India, often my biggest challenge is the non-availability of baking ingredients, and this has now become a platform to get creative on. I enjoy cooking immensely as well.

33 Comments

  • Srivalli

    deeba…seriously thats one sinfully looking cup..gal how do you maintain your figure?????..:D…

  • Passionate baker...& beyond

    Hi Sri…Not sure if there’s any figure left, but coffee is what I live for! One of the few desserts I relish!:0)

  • Passionate baker...& beyond

    Hi Sri…Not sure if there’s any figure left, but coffee is what I live for! One of the few desserts I relish!:0)

  • Sia

    deeba, seriously girl how do u manage to whip up something as delicous as this and stay fit?? 🙂 let me guess, run miles holding a cup or cake slice in ur hand;) coffee and chocolate, what a classic combination!

  • Cynthia

    One day, you will have a lot to answer for – always devilishly showing and tempting us with your sweet treats.

  • Passionate baker...& beyond

    Hey Rachel…come on over!!
    It’s worth the try Pixie…an indulgent dessert!
    Sia…to tell you the truth, I’m lazy to the bone when it comes to exercise! :0(…
    Hi Meeta…am inspired by your saffron panna cotta. I wonder why it took me so long to discover this!
    Hi Cynthia… Just another thing the devil in me got’s to answer for…ha ha!!How’s the book coming along?

  • Passionate baker...& beyond

    Hey Rachel…come on over!!
    It’s worth the try Pixie…an indulgent dessert!
    Sia…to tell you the truth, I’m lazy to the bone when it comes to exercise! :0(…
    Hi Meeta…am inspired by your saffron panna cotta. I wonder why it took me so long to discover this!
    Hi Cynthia… Just another thing the devil in me got’s to answer for…ha ha!!How’s the book coming along?

  • Proud Italian Cook

    Deeba, Sublime indeed!! This looks out of this world, and a wonderful addition to our Festa Italiana table. The coffee and the praline addition, is over the top! Thank you for making this beautiful dish, can’t wait to try it!!

  • Matthew S. Urdan

    This is an awesome site! Since you’re really into great food and great recipes, I think you’d also be interested in FohBoh, (http://www.fohboh.com/?i=28chblcn8r176) the online networking site for the International Restauarnt Industry. It’s got great information and interaction with restaurant professionals, executive chefs, videos of culinary techniques and recipe preparation, a vibrant wine community with internationally renowned somelliers and people like you and me just interested in food and drink. The site is worth checking out, and I think you’d find a great deal of value there for both yourself and your blog.

    Have an awesome day! Cheers!

  • Maryann

    Hi Deeba!
    What a wonderful panna cotta! Everyone will love this. Thanks for joining us 🙂

  • Susan from Food Blogga

    Deeba, this is simply sublime. You’re killing me, here. It’s 6:03 am, and I need this dessert. Now.

  • familiabencomo

    This is a “knock out.” I know that I would lose all sense of propriety & lick the bowl with this dessert – nothing to be wasted! Incredible job, Deeba!

    xoxox Amy

  • Passionate baker...& beyond

    Thanks Kalai & Dhivya..it was indeed!
    Hey Marie & Mary-Ann…thanks for hosting a great event!
    Hi Mike,thanks for stopping by.Loved the Moroccan stew; my mind’s thinking lemon preserves!!
    Hi Divya, great to see you here.
    Hi there Mathew, loved your blog.You should visit India for some great white-river rafting.Will check out the site you mention…
    You bet Cakelaw…praline was different & delicious…crunchy too!
    Ha ha Arundati…welcome back. Looks after your waist…waste not the opportunity to enjoy food!!
    Good morning Susan…the devil in me is tickled pink…seriously!! HA HA! Cravings at 6.03am!!
    Oh for heavens sake Amy…exactly what the husband & kids did…much to my horror!!

  • Passionate baker...& beyond

    Thanks Kalai & Dhivya..it was indeed!
    Hey Marie & Mary-Ann…thanks for hosting a great event!
    Hi Mike,thanks for stopping by.Loved the Moroccan stew; my mind’s thinking lemon preserves!!
    Hi Divya, great to see you here.
    Hi there Mathew, loved your blog.You should visit India for some great white-river rafting.Will check out the site you mention…
    You bet Cakelaw…praline was different & delicious…crunchy too!
    Ha ha Arundati…welcome back. Looks after your waist…waste not the opportunity to enjoy food!!
    Good morning Susan…the devil in me is tickled pink…seriously!! HA HA! Cravings at 6.03am!!
    Oh for heavens sake Amy…exactly what the husband & kids did…much to my horror!!

  • Ben

    You got me at the title, coffee and chocolate. That is a little piece of foodie heaven right there :-p

    Cheers!

  • Ivy

    Deeba this dessert is one of my favourites but I think you’ve taken it to another level with the ingredients you have added. Beautiful pictures as well.

  • Bellini Valli

    I will have 2 of those for the Festa Italiana thank you:D This just sounds so decadent:D

  • newblogger

    Hi, Your panna cotta looks delicious…not just delicious ..its amazzing. But just wanted to ask you how many cups can we have approx. for the measurement u’ve given. I have some guests coming over this weekend and plan to try this one out.Is it possible to make it in one big dish and not individual bowls?

  • Passionate baker...& beyond

    Hi New blogger…didnt have an email address so am writing back here..this recipe makes 6 cups. I think you can make it in a big bowl just the same way…but aint too sure. never seen panna cotta in a big bowl. Sometimes the gelatin quality makes it set less firm; so It shoudn’t break down after one serving has been taken. Just a thought…

  • Passionate baker...& beyond

    Hi New blogger…didnt have an email address so am writing back here..this recipe makes 6 cups. I think you can make it in a big bowl just the same way…but aint too sure. never seen panna cotta in a big bowl. Sometimes the gelatin quality makes it set less firm; so It shoudn’t break down after one serving has been taken. Just a thought…

  • Happy cook

    Deeba I made these pannocotta and they were super delicous. We loved it and my guest loved it too.
    This is something i will be making again. Thankyou for yet another wonderful recipe.

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