Greek Yogurt Panna Cotta With Grilled Honeyed Figs And White Nectarines Food

HONEY-YOGURT PANNA COTTA

Steps:

• Place cream and sugar in a medium saucepan. With a paring knife, split vanilla bean lengthwise; scrape out seeds, and add to cream along with empty pod (if using vanilla extract, add to yogurt mixture in step 4).
• Bring cream to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Cover pan, remove from heat, and set aside to steep, at least 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place 1/2 cup cold water in a small bowl, and sprinkle gelatin over water; set aside to soften, at least 5 minutes. In a large bowl, whisk yogurt, honey, and salt until combined; set aside.
• Return cream to a boil. Remove from heat, and immediately stir in softened gelatin until dissolved. Pour mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into yogurt-honey mixture; mix until combined.
• Divide mixture among eight 4- to 6-ounce ramekins. Chill until firm, at least 4 hours and up to 2 days.
• To serve, unmold each panna cotta from its ramekin: Run a paring knife around the top inner edge of ramekin, then dip bottom of ramekin in a bowl of boiling water for 10 seconds. Invert ramekin onto serving plate. Holding ramekin tightly to plate, shake firmly to release panna cotta. Drizzle with honey before serving.

HONEYED PANNA COTTA WITH DRIED FIGS AND SAUTERNES

Steps:

• Place milk in heavy small saucepan. Sprinkle gelatin over. Let stand 5 minutes to soften. Stir over medium heat until gelatin dissolves, about 5 minutes (do not boil). Add cream, 3 tablespoons sugar, honey and salt and stir until sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Whisk in vanilla. Cool slightly. Strain into 8 wineglasses. Refrigerate until set, at least 5 hours. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and keep refrigerated.)
• Combine Sauternes, figs and 1 tablespoon sugar in heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Boil until mixture is reduced to 3/4 cup, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat. Cool completely. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Spoon some figs and cooking liquid atop each panna cotta and serve.
• *A California dessert wine made with Orange Muscat grapes; available at liquor stores and some supermarkets.

GREEK HONEY & YOGURT PANNA COTTA

Steps:

• Combine the yogurt, crème fraiche, and honey in a stainless steel bowl and whisk until the ingredients come together.
• Set aside at room temperature.
• Bloom the gelatin: In a small bowl sprinkle the gelatin over 2 1/2 tablespoons of water.
• Set it aside.
• Allow the mixture to sit for 10 minutes. (The gelatin will soak up all the water and expand into a gummy paste.).
• Cook the egg white custard: In a small heavy saucepan, combine the milk, cream, and 1/2 cup of the sugar; bring this mixture to a simmer.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the egg whites and the remaining sugar.
• Remove the hot milk mixture and, with a ladle, add a little bit to the egg whites, whisking constantly.
• Slowly add the egg white mixture into the hot milk/cream, stirring constantly.
• Cook this mixture over medium heat, continuously stirring and scraping the bottom of the pot with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon.
• The custard is done when it thickens enough to coat the wooden spoon.
• Remove the custard from the heat and stir in the bloomed.
• gelatin.
• Slowly whisk the custard for one minute, dissolving anysmall clumps of gelatin.
• Pour the custard through a mesh strainer and chill it over ice until it comes to room temperature.
• Once the custard has cooled off, using a whisk, combine the yogurt-crème fraiche mixture with the custard.
• Whisk gently but briskly until the ingredients are homogeneous and smooth.
• Pour the custard into 12 3- or 5-ounce ramekins and tap them on the counter so that the custard settles and flattens on top.
• Refrigerate custards for at least two hours or up to two days before serving.