Saturday 22 July 2017

Lemon Panna Cotta

What would your answer be if you were asked what 3 food items you would like to have on a desert island?  My answer is always - lemons, olive oil and a live chicken.  I was going to say salt, but I reckon you could make your own on an island:=)  (And I want sugar too).  Anyway, I always have lemons (and often limes) in my crisper.  It would be a cold day in Hell before you found me lemon-less.  




lemons on a friend's tree 



So this recipe of Ruth Reichl's is perfect as I had lemons, and a few limes from our friends' tree, in the fridge needing to be used and loved very soon.  Regular readers will know that I have a copy of her latest book My Kitchen Year on my shelves.  I've really enjoyed reading her stories, even though she can be a bit melodramatic at times.  I am keenly trying out some of her recipes; this is number 3. Let's see how it goes friends.   


Serves 6:

ingredients:


500 mLs (2 cups) cream - pure or thickened

105g. white or caster sugar

150-170 mLs of lemon juice, and 1-2 tbs lemon zest



Method:


Pour the cream into a medium saucepan over a medium-low heat

Stir the sugar in and bring to the boil, stirring the whole time

Once boiled, let it boil for 2 minutes, stirring, stirring, stirring...

Take it off the heat and whisk in the lemon juice and zest

Pour into 6 ramekins and place in the fridge for at least 6 hours; I think overnight is better


This is a soft cream, so you can't unmould it like a normal panna cotta, but it is delicious.  

Notes:

Ruth does not give quantities other than cups, and to tell us to use the juice and zest of 3 lemons.  Grrrr!  This gets on my goat, as they say. Big lemon, little lemon, poor dried-out husk of a lemon!?!  I measured the juice from my fruit and got around 200 mLs.  As the ubiquitous but not always useful Web tells you, the average lemon can give anything from 45 to 55 mLs.  Not helpful.  So I went for 150, then upped it to 170, 'cos we love lemon here.  The zest came to about 1 tbs, but we like more...





only 3 ingredients - gotta love that



get ready to grate those citrus  




cream and sugar on the stove about to be boiled




boil for 2 minutes, stirring all the while   




bring to the boil, then boil for 2 minutes 




golden and creamy




pour the lemony cream into 6 ramekins  




ready to eat after at least 6 hours in the fridge 



Happily, Ruth is now 3 for 3.  I have tried this one, her quiche recipe, and the ginger cake which was so good.  My quiches are always a bit hit and miss, but I am set now that I have her guiding hand.  Mr P. and I loved this lemon panna cotta, especially since it doesn't have gelatine, which we both hate - on principle, and because of the often hit-and-miss texture.  




my lemony doodle

20 comments:

  1. Ooh great choices Sherry! And you're right, you could definitely make your own salt on an island. A lovely refreshing panna cotta flavour :D

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    1. It was really yum Lorraine. I will make it again soon for sure.

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  2. This was a really superb dessert - really tangy. Hard to stop a just one ramekin!

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  3. Ooh my hubby would love this Sherry, as he's a big lemon dessert fan. Unfortunately, we don't have a lemon tree living here in the North East of Scotland. I miss the lemon and lime trees that I had whilst living in Melbourne. My friend is looking after them...and doing a fine job :D

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    1. it is lovely to have home grown fruit isn't it? thanks for dropping by.

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  4. Ooh my hubby would love this recipe. I adores lemon desserts.
    I miss my lemon and lime trees that I used to have when I lived in Melbourne. My friend is now looking after them and doing a fine job.
    I would need a hot house to grow them here in the North East of Scotland. :D

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    1. yep lemon desserts are the bomb especially when super tangy.

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  5. lemons are great for many things :) Love its sunny color.

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    1. aren't they great? savoury or sweet- so useful.

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  6. This sounds delicious Sherry. We're definitely like minded, looooove lemon and am never without them, gelatine on the other hand, no thanks. A recipe with just three ingredients is always appealing, will be trying this soon

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    1. hi sandra
      yes lemons are the best. a fruit for all seasons. this is so easy and so delish. Hubby loved it too which is good as he doesn't always love desserts.

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  7. Lemon would be my choice too. My fridge is seldom lemon-free. Very tempted to make a lemon pudding now...this is yum sounding.

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    1. it really is great if you love lemon Cheryl. And so quick and easy. thanks for commenting.

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  8. Sherry, this sounds delicious! My lemon tree is loaded so looks like lemon panna cotta coming up! So good that you measured the amount of lemon juice you used - my lemons are enormous so it would be hard to judge!

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    1. oh yes it is delish marcellina. always useful to measure ingredients i find. i really hate cup measurements or vague amounts like the juice of a lemon. grrr:)

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  9. Lemons, olive oil and a chook sounds like a good plan! XX

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    1. I think so too Liz:). But I'd love to sneak some sugar in.

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  10. Yes...lemons, lemons, lemons. I go through lemons like no tomorrow. Pity my lemon tree is having issues :(

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    Replies
    1. Hi Jem
      Lemons 🍋 are a necessity aren't they? Can't live without them. :)

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