Rosewater Pannacotta with Raspberry Coulis

INGREDIENTS 

(Serves 4) 

  • 225ml double cream
  • 225ml whole milk
  • 2 leaves of gelatin
  • 40g caster sugar
  • 2 teaspoons of rosewater
  • 200g raspberries
  • 1 tablespoon of icing sugar
  • ½ lemon – juice only
  • Rose petals to decorate

Prepare the panna cotta the day before you wish to serve as they need to set overnight in the fridge.

You will need four 125ml moulds for this recipe, metal dariole moulds are ideal if you have them.

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In a bowl of cold water, soak the gelatin leaves, pushing them under the surface so they are fully submerged. Leave to soak for 5 minutes, until they soften.

Meanwhile, heat the milk, cream, and caster sugar in a small saucepan over a low heat. Stir as the liquid simmers in order to help the sugar dissolve. Then remove from the heat and add the rosewater – measure carefully though, as rosewater is potent, and too much is overpowering. 

Next, squeeze the gelatin leaves free of excess water using your hands, then stir into the hot cream mixture until completely dissolved.

Now, carefully strain the cream evenly into the four moulds using a fine sieve. Leave to cool briefly, before covering with cling film and placing in the fridge to set overnight. 

To make the raspberry coulis, first give the raspberries a quick rinse under some cool water. Then place in a small saucepan along with the icing sugar. Heat gently until the raspberries begin to lose their shape, (a few minutes), then remove from the heat to a food processor. 

Blitz briefly in the processor until you have a liquid, then add the lemon juice. 

Strain the coulis through a fine sieve, pushing with the back of a fork to ensure that you extract the maximum amount of liquid. Discard the pips.

To serve, dip each mould in hot water for a couple of seconds, then turn out by placing an individual serving plate over each and up-ending. If sufficiently loosened by the hot water, the panna cotta should obligingly wobble out.

Drizzle the coulis scenically around the panna cotta, and decorate with a scattering of the most beautiful rose petals you can find.