Almond Panna Cotta With Cherry Compote Food

BUTTERMILK PANNA COTTA WITH CHERRY COMPOTE

Steps:

• Make the panna cotta: Fill a liquid measuring cup or small bowl with 1/2 cup cold water; sprinkle the gelatin on top and let stand 5 minutes.
• Heat the sugar and half-and-half in a small saucepan over medium heat, whisking to dissolve the sugar. Remove from the heat and whisk in the gelatin mixture until dissolved. Stir in the buttermilk and vanilla and almond extracts. Pour through a fine-mesh sieve into a large liquid measuring cup or bowl. Let cool to room temperature, then divide among 6 glasses or small bowls. Refrigerate until firm, at least 4 hours.
• Make the compote: Combine the cherries and sugar in a large saucepan; let sit at room temperature until juicy, about 4 hours.
• Add the ginger and star anise to the cherry mixture and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally and skimming any foam from the top, until thick and syrupy, about 30 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice and vanilla extract and cook 2 to 3 more minutes; remove from the heat and let cool completely. (Refrigerate any leftover compote in an airtight container for up to 1 month.) Spoon on top of the panna cotta and sprinkle with almonds.

ALMOND PANNA COTTA WITH CHERRY COMPOTE

Steps:

• To make the panna cotta:.
• In a mixing bowl, sprinkle the gelatin over 1/2 cup of the almond milk. Allow the gelatin to soften, about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan over medium heat, combine the remaining almond milk, heavy cream, blanched almonds and sugar. Whisk the mixture to dissolve the sugar while bringing it to a simmer. Remove from the heat, cover with a lid and allow to steep for 15 minutes. Strain out the almonds and return the mixture to the saucepan. Return the saucepan to the stove and bring to a simmer. Whisk in the gelatin mixture, remove from the heat and divide among six 6-ounce ramekins. Refrigerate until set, at least 5 hours.
• To make the cherry compote:.
• While the panna cotta sets, combine the cherries, cherry preserves, sugar, balsamic vinegar and 1/2 cup water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, and then reduce to medium-high heat and continue to boil until the mixture becomes syrupy, about 18 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool (it will continue to thicken as it cools). Cover and chill until ready to serve. If desired, unmold the panna cotta. Serve with the cherry compote either on top or alongside.

VANILLA GELATO WITH CHERRY COMPOTE

Steps:

• For the gelato: Add the milk, cream, 1 cup of the sugar and vanilla bean to a 4-quart heavy-bottomed saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Stir occasionally to combine.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the egg yolks with the remaining 1/4 cup sugar in a large heatproof bowl until they become lighter in color and the sugar dissolves.
• When the milk mixture is at a simmer, lower the heat to medium. Carefully ladle 1 cup of the hot milk mixture into the egg mixture, while whisking, and whisk until fully combined. Repeat this step one more time, then pour the egg mixture back into the saucepan. Add the salt. Cook the mixture while stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, making sure to stir the corners of the pot. Cook until the mixture thickens and can coat the back of a spoon.
• Prepare an ice bath in a large bowl or pot with water and ice. Carefully strain the mixture into a strainer set over a heatproof bowl. Remove and discard the vanilla bean. Put the heatproof bowl in the ice bath. Stir occasionally until the mixture is chilled and no longer warm. Set in the fridge until very cold, at least 1 hour.
• Freeze the mixture to an ice-cream maker and process according to the manufacturer's instructions. Transfer to a freezer-proof container and cover.
• Freeze before serving, 1 to 2 hours. It's best to serve the gelato the same day it's made.
• For the compote: Combine the cherries, 1/2 cup water and the sugar in a 2-quart saucepan and bring to a bare simmer over medium heat. Stir to allow the sugar to melt. Cook the compote until the ingredients combine and the cherries just begin to break up, 7 to 10 minutes. (Depending on the ripeness of your cherries you may want to cook them longer.) Remove the pan from the heat and add the rum. Ignite the compote safely with a long-handled lighter and return to the stovetop to flambe and cook off the alcohol.
• Serve the gelato with the warm compote.

ALMOND PANNA COTTA WITH CHERRY COMPOTE

Steps:

• For the panna cotta: In a mixing bowl, sprinkle the gelatin over 1/2 cup of the almond milk. Allow the gelatin to soften, about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan over medium heat, combine the remaining almond milk, heavy cream, blanched almonds and sugar. Whisk the mixture to dissolve the sugar while bringing it to a simmer. Remove from the heat, cover with a lid and allow to steep for 15 minutes. Strain out the almonds and return the mixture to the saucepan. Return the saucepan to the stove and bring to a simmer. Whisk in the gelatin mixture, remove from the heat and divide among six 6-ounce ramekins. Refrigerate until set, at least 5 hours.
• For the cherry compote: While the panna cotta sets, combine the cherries, cherry preserves, sugar, balsamic vinegar and 1/2 cup water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, and then reduce to medium-high heat and continue to boil until the mixture becomes syrupy, about 18 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool (it will continue to thicken as it cools). Cover and chill until ready to serve. If desired, unmold the panna cotta. Serve with the cherry compote either on top or alongside.

CHERRY COMPOTE WITH ALMONDS

Steps:

• Put cherries in a low, wide skillet over medium heat. Sprinkle with sugar and cook, stirring occasionally, until cherries are heated through and a syrup has formed at the bottom of the pan, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Turn off heat. Add orange liqueur and almond extract. Stir in blanched almonds.
• Transfer to a serving bowl and refrigerate until time to serve. (It keeps for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.) Serve chilled.

YOGURT PANNA COTTA WITH CHERRY AND PEACH COMPOTE

Steps:

• Pour 1/4 cup water into small bowl; sprinkle gelatin over. Let stand 10 minutes. Bring cream and sugar to simmer in heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat. Add gelatin mixture and whisk until dissolved. Whisk in yogurt and vanilla. Divide mixture among eight 3/4-cup custard cups. Cover and chill overnight. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep refrigerated.)
• Cut around edges of each panna cotta to loosen. Set each cup in shallow bowl of hot water for 10 seconds. Immediately invert onto plate. Top with compote.