Panna cotta is serious. Most people don’t exactly love panna cotta. And I get it. I do.
Shitty panna cotta is super stiff and gelatinous, in the worse way possible. Good panna cotta melts once it hits your tongue. I’ve had numerous terrible panna cottas served to me over the years. Most have been at mediocre restaurants where you leave feeling like you overpaid, even though the prices aren’t necessarily astronomical. Isn’t that the worst?
There’s a recent article (what timing!) on Bon Appetit’s all about panna cotta and whether it’s a legit dessert. Some of the points dismissing it are valid. I think many times it’s this throwaway dessert; an item restaurants—that are without a pastry chef—can slap on the menu by simply adding it their prep cook’s laundry list of to-dos because, it’s panna cotta, and everybody can make it. The problem is, most people can’t execute panna cotta correctly. They don’t do it with a soft enough hand; they don’t flirt with the line of it not firming up.
That tight rope is a tough one to walk, but it must be done, because if it isn’t then all you’ll be left with is stiff, shitty panna cotta. And who wants that?
While texture is the upmost importance with panna cotta, the second most important thing is flavor.
I tend to think straight-up cow’s milk panna cotta is a bit boring. I prefer mixing in a bit of yogurt and lacing it with vanilla bean for added fragrance.
I don’t always use fancy dairy for my cooking, but in this case I did: Straus whole milk and Straus European-style yogurt.
Their yogurt is maybe my favorite product from them ever! It’s tart, delicious, full-flavored and expensive. It’s a splurge.
By the way, if you’re wondering what restaurant does it right, Bestia in Los Angeles makes some of the best panna cotta ever. It’s super loose; more loose than this recipe here.
I’m not sure who invented the word “curd,” but they should be fired. So sad that a gross-sounding word like that represents such dreaminess. Truly. This curd might be my favorite thing ever. There will be a bit extra leftover after you top the panna cottas; maybe a tablespoon or two, make sure to save it, put it on some toast with your morning cup of coffee. It’s worth the save.
Ingredients
Yogurt Panna Cotta:
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk divided
- 1 1/2 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
- 1 vanilla bean split and scraped
- 1/2 cup white granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups European-style whole milk yogurt
Grapefruit Curd:
- 1/2 cup freshly squeezed ruby red grapefruit juice strained
- 2 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 large egg
- Pinch salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly squeezed Meyer lemon juice
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, pour in 1/4 cup milk and stir in the gelatin powder. Set aside for 15 minutes, allowing the gelatin to bloom.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix together the vanilla bean caviar and sugar. Mix the two with your hands, vigorously, until the vanilla bean caviar is thoroughly distributed throughout the sugar. Add the vanilla sugar and empty vanilla bean pot to a medium saucepan. Pour in the remaining 1 1/4 cup milk and salt. Heat over medium-low heat and stir until the sugar is dissolved, about 3-5 minutes.
- Pour the gelatin/milk mixture into the saucepan with the milk/sugar mixture and stir until smooth, about 1 minute. Transfer to the bowl (you can use the bowl where the milk and gelatin were) and allow the mixture to cool to a lukewarm temperature. Whisk in the yogurt (it'll be lumpy at first - just keep whisking) and mix until smooth.
- Divide the panna cotta between ramekins. (I filled 4 ramekins, but if you use smaller ones, you can get enough for 6.) Transfer the panna cotta to the refrigerator and chill until firm, at least 6 hours, but ideally overnight. Since there isn't THAT much gelatin in this, overnight is preferred.
Grapefruit Curd
- To a small saucepan, simmer the grapefruit juice until it reduces by half (to 1/4 cup), about 3-5 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly.
- In a medium stainless steel bowl (note: you'll use this bowl as a makeshift double-boiler later). Add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Add the egg yolk, beat the mixture together, and then add the egg, beating again until it's well incorporated. Stir in the salt, and then in a few batches, add the grapefruit juice and lemon juice.
- Rince out the small saucepan you used earlier, and fill it 1/3 of the way full of water. Bring to a simmer and place your stainless steel bowl of curd on top. Stir constantly, and heat the curd slowly enough that the sugar has time to dissolve. This step usually takes about ten minutes. Pull the curd from the head when it is just thick enough to coat your spoon, or, my preferred way, until a thermometer reads 166 F. Your curd will thicken as it cools.
- If you feel like you've overheated it a bit, or you aren't using a thermometer, you can run it through a sieve to rid it of any lumps that might've cooked up. If you used a thermometer, then feel free to skip this step. Transfer the curd to a container and refrigerate, covered, for up to 1 week.
Oh yom. Need to try this. Question though: Do you think I could make this a lemon curd? Would I adjust the sugar? My hub doesn’t love grapefruit.
That curd looks like perfection, and I agree that whoever invented the word should be fired. (I’m also with you on the loose panna cotta thing.) The combination of vanilla, yogurt, and grapefruit sounds like my idea of heaven. Mmm…
I LOVE Panna Cotta. It’s a shame more people don’t, because of all the reasons you outlined… Couldn’t agree more. Lovely blog, keep up the good work x
oooh I so agree that panna cotta should be super softly set. I remember making mine for the first time and trying (stupidly) to unmold it.. splat. flat panna cotta. But the ones I didn’t unmold were so soft and melty and delicious and I was totally sold on homemade panna cotta.
I’m a sucker for lemon curd and bet grapefruit curd rocks! Can’t wait to try =)
Connie
I happen to have some European delicious unpasteurized Dutch milk at home…. yum!
Oh my gosh yogurt panna cotta? With curd on top? Made from grapefruits? Halleluja everything about this is so right. I agree with you that panna cotta should not be a throw-away dessert but one with a little love put into it. When it’s done well….. So good! I love the soft edges when it’s turned out onto a plate. Not solidly shaped, like a flan. You rocked this!
This looks divine! I’ve been eating a grapefruit every day and never thought to make a curd out of it!
This sounds like a perfect dessert. Love it!
Even if I’m Italian and panna cotta here is a staple, I’ve never been a big fan of the stuff, but trust me when I say that your pictures made me change my mind a little about it. I mean, that curd looks delicious! Can’t wait to give it a go!
xo, Elisa
Mmm panna cotta. I make mine with leaf gelatine, which gives a much softer set. Is leaf gelatine easily available in the US? If so, I’d definitely recommend using it.
You got that right! i have seen recipes with three time the amount gelatin needed to JUST set milk, let alone cream. I love the use of yoghurt here and against Heidi’s curd it would taste magnificent!