Vanilla Panna Cotta

This is my go to dinner party pud! They seem to be pretty failsafe and you can serve them with your favourite fruit.

Ingredients (makes 4 – 6):

• 3 Gelatine leaves
• 250 ml Milk
• 250 ml Double Cream
• 1 Vanilla Pod, split lengthways, seeds scraped out (I have always just used good quality vanilla bean paste)
• 25 g Sugar
• Strawberries and passion fruit to serve

Method

1. Soak the gelatine leaves in a little cold water until soft.
2. Place the milk, cream, vanilla pod and seeds and sugar into a pan and bring to a simmer. Remove the vanilla pod and discard.
3. Squeeze the water out of the gelatine leaves, then add to the pan and take off the heat. Stir until the gelatine has dissolved.
4. Divide the mixture among four ramekins and leave to cool (easily does 6 small metal ramakins).
5. Place into the fridge for at least an hour, until set. (I tend to make them in the morning to give plenty of time to set).
6. When you are ready to serve, I run the ramakins under a little warm water and then turn the panna cottas out onto plates. I like to serve with chopped strawberries soaked in the juice from a few passion fruits!

 Helen Edwardson