Espresso Panna Cotta

To prepare a refined and delicious dessert, panna cotta with chocolate sauce is the perfect choice. We start with an essential step: gelatin. It is placed in cold water, taking care to swell and become soft, which takes a few minutes. An alternative would be to add it directly to coffee, but for a classic recipe, it is recommended to use about 4 tablespoons of water.

If you want to enrich the flavor of the dessert, use a vanilla bean. It is carefully split in half, and the seeds are extracted and added to the cream. In a suitable pot, combine the cream with sugar, the previously prepared coffee, and the hydrated gelatin. Bring the mixture to medium heat, stirring constantly. It is important not to let the mixture boil, but to heat it until it becomes hot, and bubbles begin to form at the edge of the pot.

Once the mixture is warm and homogeneous, take it off the heat and add vanilla essence if you chose to use it instead of the bean. Now comes an interesting stage: preparing the cups. Take 6 or 8 cups (depending on the desired size) and lightly grease them with oil to facilitate the removal of the panna cotta. Then, carefully strain the liquid through a fine sieve into each cup. This step ensures a fine texture for the dessert, eliminating any lumps. Cover the cups with plastic wrap and leave them in the fridge to cool and set overnight.

The next day, it is time for the chocolate sauce, which will add a delicious contrast to the dessert. Break the chocolate into pieces and place it in a bowl over a double boiler. Stir carefully until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth. Remove from heat and add the prepared coffee, homogenizing everything until you achieve a uniform and glossy sauce.

To serve, take the panna cotta out of the fridge, remove the plastic wrap, and pour the warm chocolate sauce on top. As a final touch, decorate the dessert with chocolate pieces and coffee beans, giving it an attractive appearance and a note of elegance. This dessert is not only a treat for the taste buds but also a star on festive tables, suitable for various occasions. Enjoy it with friends or family and savor every bite!