Monday, September 19, 2011

Coquito Pana Cotta with Strawberry Compote

Coquito Pana Cotta with Strawberry Compote d2-w
So it turns out that non-alcoholic coquito is a pretty fantastic cure to cocktail envy when you aren't allowed to/don't want to imbibe anything with a bit of kick in it. I've been whipping up batches of this creamy goodness every so often (which for now I can chalk up to baby weight, but which I'm sure I'll have to find another excuse for in the next few months) and thorough relishing sipping it oh-so-slowly over crushed ice. Seriously, if you're not drooling at the mere thought of this, there is clearly something fundamentally wrong with you. 

Recently my thoughts have also been inundated with thoughts of desserts - cookies, cream, berries, chocolate - you name it, it's made a brief (or not-so-brief) appearance in my recent culinary dreams. I guess it's good that my laziness has prevented me from actually whipping up all of these lavish ideas, but I made up for it over the weekend by making not one but two desserts to satisfy my inner glutton. 

The first was this ultra-creamy pana cotta - made with coquito, no less - served up with a freshly made batch of strawberry compote. Now I've never been a huge berry fan, but recent years have seen me change first my attitude towards the fresh berries - hello strawberry picking farm! - and secondly towards berry-based drinks, bakes, desserts and even mains
Coquito Pana Cotta with Strawberry Compote a3-w

Which brought me to the rather sobering realisation that I've been missing out big time. Especially considering the relatively limited berry season we have here at the southern tip of Africa. Epic fail. So when I spied those first strawberries of the season during my weekly food-foraging foray into the supermarket, well, I guess you could say that all resistance crumbled. 

And I'm not one to blow my own horn (*cough*), but da-yum! This pana cotta was goooooooooooooooood. And the slightly warm strawberry compote (which really, is just a fancy word for stewed fruit plus syrup) spooned over the top? I wish I'd made more of that to eat as is - greedily and without shame - directly from the pan. And is it pure coincidence that the perfect foil to a tongue half-burnt from too-hot fruit is a cool creamy delicately-spiced pana cotta? Yup, guilty as charged. 

PS: The second sweet treat I made over the weekend were some cookies featuring a touch of citrus and poppy seeds. And if you shout long and hard enough I might just kick my ass into gear and actually take photos of those to share them with you as well. Because really they are the perfect little thing(s - who are we kidding?) to nibble on with your morning cuppa. 

Coquito Pana Cotta with Strawberry Compote b3-w
Coquito Pana Cotta with Strawberry Compote
A Creative Pot original
Serves 4

1 cup (250ml) cream
2 cups (500ml) virgin coquito*
1/4 cup sugar
1 tbsp (15ml) gelatine
2/3 plain yogurt
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
For the strawberry compote:
250g strawberries, plus extra to garnish (optional)
2 tbsp icing sugar
1 tbsp lemon juice

*i.e leave out the rum

1. Heat cream, coquito and sugar in a large saucepan, stirring until sugar has melted and liquid starts to bubble gently.
2. Take pan off the heat and sprinkle gelatine over, stirring quickly to ensure it dissolves evenly. Allow to cool for about 10 minutes, then stir yogurt and spices through. 
3. Strain and pour into individual molds, then place in the fridge to set. 
4. Meanwhile, make the strawberry compote, by hulling the strawberries and cutting the larger ones in half. Place in a saucepan with the icing sugar and lemon juice and cook until the strawberries have just started to soften - a lovely strawberry syrup will have formed from the juices. Allow to cool down. 
5. Remove the pana cottas from their molds and spoon the strawberry compote over. Add a few slices of fresh strawberries on the side if you wish and serve. 


Of  course you're more than welcome to make this with the rum-laced original version of coquito - I'm pretty sure it would taste even more fabulous than it already did!

21 comments:

Sam on September 19, 2011 4:26 pm said...

That looks perfect for summer. Yum!

Umm Mymoonah on September 19, 2011 5:36 pm said...

Gorgeous pudding.

nina on September 19, 2011 5:58 pm said...

Perfect, glad your mojo's back!!

Joanne on September 20, 2011 3:35 am said...

Panna cotta is one of those things that I tend to think can only happen in a restaurant...but you make it look so GOOD! The coquito on top is perfect.

Thuli on September 20, 2011 5:57 am said...

That looks delicious Marisa! You are scarce girlfriend! Is the new job keeping you busy? Anyways, glad to see you posting! xx

Juanita on September 20, 2011 9:39 am said...

Looks fab! The nutmeg and cinnamon is an interesting twist paired with the strawbs.

Linda Harding on September 20, 2011 10:21 am said...

Delish! Sounds decadently moreish

Anonymous said...

It looks delicious.... this is my 2nd attempt to leave a msg!

myFudo on September 20, 2011 10:12 pm said...

This looks delicious. wow... so mouth watering. I should get you be my guest cook for a day :) love the photo

Ishay on September 20, 2011 11:29 pm said...

Look at these pics! can almost pick a berry off the screen. Looks delicious

Jessica on September 21, 2011 8:58 am said...

That looks woooooooonderful! This is the first pana cotta that I've seen that I'm actively lusting after. Great photos! *gets back to drooling*

polkadotcupcake on September 21, 2011 10:10 am said...

Trust you to come around to berries so late in life, what took you so long! This looks divine, so light and fresh! And i really must get to making that coquito...

Valerie Gamine on September 21, 2011 4:01 pm said...

This looks and sounds so refreshing! I've made panna cotta before, but never with fancy stewed fruit and syrup.

Live it up girl! This is your time to eat, drink (non-alcoholicly), and be merry! :D

kankana on September 27, 2011 7:25 pm said...

That looks delicious and so perfect in shape. I am yet to make a perfect pana cotta! The strawberries are my fav!

chow and chatter on October 08, 2011 10:47 pm said...

this looks amazing and fear not if you nurse after she is born you can get away with a few extra calories as well :-)

Eliana on October 13, 2011 1:18 am said...

Fantastic creation girlfriend. Will definitely be giving this delicious confection a try.

Rinat on October 13, 2011 11:01 pm said...

Thank you for a great idea for tomorrow evening.
we are having friends over and this is the ultimate desert, only i will use dates instead of strawberries, i am sure they will work great with the pana-cota

Rinat on October 13, 2011 11:03 pm said...

Sorry, i was going to say figs not dates

Michelle @ Greedy Gourmet on October 26, 2011 10:21 pm said...

Ahhhh, panna cotta! This is definitely something you should make me when I visit home one day. ;-) Don't worry about the weight, blame it on the baby!

Receitas para a Felicidade on November 05, 2011 11:22 pm said...

Looks so good and sounds DELICIOUS,

THANKS FOR SHARING

Jeanne on September 26, 2012 6:17 pm said...

Oh, beautiful pannacottas! My last attempt refused to unmould which was... interesting!

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