Mango Panna Cotta (Italian Dessert - Fusion Style)

          This is an extremely easy and an awesome Italian dessert with an Indian flavour. I have added cardamom powder and some saffron strands instead of vanilla that is generally used. I thought of making a good use of this mango season so went ahead and tried this recipe. Made with mango puree, milk, cream and gelatin, it can be had as an after meal dessert too. But be sure to have them chilled. So check out the step by step method with pictures to prepare this delicacy.

• 1 & 1/2 cups mango puree
• 2 tbsp. gelatin
• 1 cup water
• 1 & 1/2 cups milk
• 3-4 tbsp. sugar
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder (reserve some to garnish)
• 1 cup fresh cream
• few mango pieces to garnish
• mint sprigs to garnish
• few saffron strands to garnish

          Dissolve 1 tbsp. gelatin in 1 cup lukewarm water for 10-12 minutes. Add 2 tbsp. sugar to the puree (depending on the sweetness of the mango). Mix well. 

          Add the dissolved gelatin to the mango puree and give it a stir. Pour into individual glasses, that are kept at an angle and half fill the glass. Chill till it is set.

          Meanwhile, mix the remaining gelatin in the milk and set aside for 10-12 minutes. Bring the milk to a boil and add the sugar and cardamom powder. 

          Stir till it dissolves and set aside till it comes to room temperature. Mix the cream in it and combine well.

          Fill the glasses with the milk and again chill for 2-3 hours or till it completely sets. Garnish with chopped mango cubes, mint sprig, saffron strands and a sprinkle of some cardamom powder.

                           Dissolve 1 tbsp. gelatin in 1 cup lukewarm water for 10-12 minutes. 

                   Add 2 tbsp. sugar to the puree (depending on the sweetness of the mango). 
                   Mix well. 

                                Add dissolved gelatin to the mango puree & give it a stir.               

                     Pour into individual glasses, that are kept at an angle & half  fill the glass. 
                     Chill till it is set.

                     Meanwhile, mix remaining gelatin in the milk & set aside for 10-12 min.

                                Then bring the milk to a boil & add sugar & ......

                      cardamom powder. Stir till it dissolves & set aside till it comes to room                                                temperature. 
                            

                                Mix cream in it & combine well.

                     

                           Fill the glasses with milk & again chill for 2-3 hours or till it sets.

                       Garnish with chopped mango cubes, mint sprig, saffron strands & a 
                       sprinkle of some cardamom powder.

Tea Panna Cotta (Dessert - Italian Style)

   
          This is an amazing Italian dessert where I gave a tea flavor to it. I used Agar Agar powder for the thickening. Traditionally it is prepared with milk and / or cream. But in this recipe, I made use of some full fat milk with two other flavoring agents - cardamom and cinnamon powder besides tea bags. It is a light after-meal dessert. You can experiment with the tea flavors by adding Earl Grey Tea, Green Tea, etc. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it.

• 2-3 tea bags
• 1 tsp. ginger, grated
• 2-3 cardamoms, bruised
• 500 ml. full fat milk
• 1 cup hot water
• 1 & 1/2  tbsp. agar agar powder
• 1/2 cup powdered brown sugar or to taste
• 1/4 tsp. of cinnamon powder
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla essence
• chopped dry fruits to garnish

          Place the tea bags along with ginger and cardamoms in a bowl and add 1/2 cup hot water to it. Cover and keep aside for 30 minutes to brew. Then strain it and keep the liquid aside. 

          Meanwhile bring the milk to a boil. Add sugar and cinnamon powder. Stir to dissolve. Simmer for 5 minutes on low flame by stirring continuously. Add the vanilla essence, mix well and keep aside to cool.

          Add the agar agar in remaining hot water and mix well so that there are no lumps. When the milk has cooled down, add the agar agar mix and the tea liquid. 

          Stir well and pour into individual glasses. Refrigerate for 4-5 hours for it to set properly. Garnish with chopped nuts and serve as an after meal dessert.

                      Pour hot water over tea bags, ginger & cardamoms. Set aside for 30 
                      minutes to brew.

                                 Strain & keep the liquid aside.

                     Bring milk to a boil. Add sugar & cinnamon powder. Stir continuously. 
                     Add vanilla essence & set aside to cool. 

                Mix agar agar in remaining hot water. Add to the cooled down milk, mix 
                well & pour into individual glasses. Refrigerate to set.

Garnish with chopped nuts & serve.