Inspired- Simply Sweet
“The only thing I like better than talking about food is eating.”-John Walters
If you are reading this, here is a fair warning. This piece contains descriptions and narratives that are solely meant for the purpose of awakening your taste buds and help you realise the bliss of the simple pleasures of life.
This blog documents the journey of an average home cook who has a burning passion for food and has been enlightened, just like the great artists among us, that food is beautiful and is a powerful means of bringing people together. It recounts the experience of making and eating various dishes inspired by the world around us.
In India, a common practice is to start off anything by having something sweet.
So let’s delve into our first dish, Panna cotta. Now, every time this dish has been mentioned among family members, the first thought that arises is a coat (which is totally understandable) because this dish is not of an Indian origin. This sweet, creamy, and almost jelly-like dessert is brought to us by the same country that took over the world with Pizzas and Pastas, Italy.
A dessert of sweetened cream thickened by gelatin or agar-agar, it can be flavoured with coffee, vanilla, matcha (green tea powder), chocolate and it has a big scope for experimentation. However, the classic vanilla is the iconic flavour of a Panna cotta.
The dish begins with the cream being gently heated on the stove-top. Gelatin is bloomed and added to the cream. Sugar is streamed in and drops of vanilla create ripples on the surface of the cream. The mixture is slowly stirred and simmered till it thickens. The pace of the world around gradually comes to halt as the mixture bubbles and boils unhurriedly. The mixture is taken off the heat and allowed to cool to room temperature. It is then poured into smaller bowls and refrigerated till it sets.
The moment of truth has finally come. You take the bowl out of the refrigerator. You have one of two options- grab a spoon and scoop out the Panna cotta or invert onto a plate. No matter the course of action, brace yourself.
You have a spoonful of velvety, smooth, rich, sweet cream. It may look jelly-like, holding itself up, but the moment the cold Panna cotta touches your tongue, it melts into a pool of bliss. All your senses awaken, your eyes widen and you are on cloud nine. The inherent sweetness of dairy fills your mouth while the floral warmth of vanilla is caught by your nose.
The desire to have another spoonful taunts you and you succumb to it. A time of disappointment arrives when you take the last spoonful and you look in horror as your bowl stares back at you, empty.
Fret not. All recipes are for more than one serving. Go ahead, sneak one more bowl and enjoy to your heart’s desire.
This piece was written in collaboration with Kaia.
