5-Star Cardamom Panna Cotta with Poached Pears Recipe
This elegant and easy 5-Star Cardamom Panna Cotta with Pears is a luscious, creamy dessert infused with fragrant cardamom and topped with delicately poached pears. Perfect for sophisticated dinner parties or cozy autumn evenings, this panna cotta offers a delightful balance of aromatic spices and sweet fruit, showcasing an impressive yet accessible treat.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 50 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-inspired
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cardamom Panna Cotta:
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cardamom (or 6 crushed cardamom pods)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 teaspoons unflavored gelatin powder
- 3 tablespoons cold water
For the Poached Pears:
- 2 firm Bosc or Anjou pears, peeled, halved, and cored
- 1 1/2 cups dry white wine (or apple juice for alcohol-free version)
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 whole cloves
- 1 strip of lemon peel
Instructions
- Bloom the gelatin: In a small bowl, sprinkle the gelatin over cold water and let it sit for 5 minutes until it blooms, becoming gelatinous and ready to melt smoothly into the cream base.
- Heat the cream mixture: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the heavy cream, whole milk, granulated sugar, ground cardamom, and vanilla extract. Stir gently as the sugar dissolves and warm the mixture until it is hot but not boiling, ensuring the flavors meld beautifully.
- Incorporate gelatin: Remove the cream mixture from the heat and stir in the bloomed gelatin until it is completely dissolved, ensuring a smooth texture without any lumps.
- Strain and chill: Pour the mixture through a fine sieve to remove any cardamom seeds or clumps. Divide the strained mixture evenly into ramekins or dessert glasses. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or until the panna cotta is fully set and firm to the touch.
- Prepare the poached pears: While the panna cotta chills, combine white wine (or apple juice), sugar, cinnamon stick, cloves, and lemon peel in a medium saucepan. Bring to a gentle simmer, then add the peeled, halved, and cored pears. Poach them for 20 to 25 minutes until tender but still holding their shape.
- Cool and slice: Allow the poached pears to cool in the spiced liquid to absorb more flavor. Once cooled, slice thinly or dice them to prepare for topping the panna cotta.
- Assemble and serve: Just before serving, arrange the poached pear slices atop each panna cotta. Optionally drizzle some of the poaching syrup over the dessert to enhance sweetness and presentation. Garnish with fresh mint or a twist of lemon zest for an elegant finish.
Notes
- The panna cotta needs at least 4 hours to set properly in the refrigerator; making it a day ahead is ideal for convenience.
- Ground cardamom can be used as a substitute for crushed cardamom pods, with 1 1/2 teaspoons providing a good balance of flavor.
- For an alcohol-free version, substitute white wine with apple juice when poaching pears.
- If using gelatin sheets instead of powder, substitute 3 sheets and follow blooming instructions specific to sheets.
- Serve chilled in elegant glassware with optional garnishes like fresh mint or lemon zest for a refined presentation.
Keywords: panna cotta recipe, cardamom panna cotta, poached pears dessert, elegant desserts, easy panna cotta, autumn desserts
