We as a family are big fans of "panna cotta". And we have gone to great lengths to eat this Italian concoction, comprising of milk, cream and sugar along with a setting agent like agar agar to set it and give it that wobbly texture. 
Almost a decade ago, we used to drive down many miles to this particular restaurant run by an Italian chef, which happened to be the only place in town that served a vegetarian pannacotta made without gelatin. And since his antipasti, pizzas or pastas were not great, it meant us eating main course elsewhere and dessert some place else. All this now sounds like from another lifetime, before parenthood beckoned. Ofcourse this was also a time when the city was waking up to the authentic delights of cuisines from other countries. Panna cotta is now widely available everywhere and many chefs prefer to use agar agar or chinagrass instead of gelatin. 
It is hard to believe that a simple dessert made with such few ingredients, primarily milk, cream and sugar, can have such a profound impact on the tastebuds. 
Perhaps it is the simplicity itself that makes this so comforting. 
A breeze to make, this uncomplicated dessert can be embellished with many different fruits and enhanced with various flavourings to make it more extravagant if one prefers to present it in such a way. 
Since the entire landscape of the city during this season is dotted with ruby red strawberries from Mahabaleshwar (also known as land of strawberries in India), being sold by supermarkets, departmental stores, street vendors and hawkers everywhere, I decided to use this gift from mother nature to top my beautifully set panna cotta by making a coulis, which is nothing but a sauce made from pureed fruits or vegetables. 
So essentially this is a pairing of the Italian panna cotta with the French Coulis. But let me tell you the panna cotta would be great with other fruit toppings too or even eaten plain or maybe topped with some nutella! 
That said the vanilla flavoured panna cotta with the sweetened strawberry sauce are a splendid match. The smooth ruby red strawberry sauce topping the quivering soft set, vanilla scented base in this union of the Classic Italian "Panna Cotta" and the French "Coulis" is a beautiful match looks wise and taste wise. And I guess that should be enough to make a dessert maker happy!
Vegetarian Pannacotta With Strawberry Coulis Recipe
You can serve the pannacotta plain or with strawberry coulis topped over it. Other seasonal fruits can also be used to top the pannacotta.
For the Pannacotta
Ingredients:
agar agar or chinagrass* water* 500 ml cream 500 ml milk 1 vanilla pod or 2 tsp pure vanilla extract 165 gm (3/4 cup) sugar
Method:
If you want a moulded pannacotta, then lightly grease ramekin moulds or any cups with a neutral flavoured vegetable oil, like rice bran oil. If using chinagrass sheets, powder it in a blender and soak in cold water for 20 to 30 minutes. In a large saucepan, mix the cream and milk together and put in the slit vanilla pod. Stir in the sugar and cook on medium low heat until the mixture comes to a boil. Turn off the heat. In another saucepan, heat the soaked chinagrass along with the water on the lowest flame, stirring continuously until the chinagrass melts completely. Stir the hot chinagrass solution over a strainer into the hot milk and cream mixture. Stir well and if you see tiny china grass particles then with a hand blender, blend at medium speed until the mixture is smooth. Pour into the greased moulds or tall glasses of your choice. Allow to cool and chill in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 hours or overnight before serving.
For the Strawberry Coulis
Ingredients:
1 cup strawberry 1/4 to 1/2 cup sugar juice of half a lime
Method:
Blend the strawberry with the sugar into a puree in a blender or a food processor. Put in the lime juice and cook until the mixture comes to a boil. Allow to cool.
- Use 10 gm agar agar or china grass and 250 ml (1 cup) water to dissolve the china grass or agar agar for 1 liter of liquid (milk and cream together) for a soft set pannacotta. Use 15 gm agar agar or china grass and 375 ml (1 1/2 cups) water to dissolve the agar agar or china grass for a hard set pannacotta for the same quantity of liquid i.e milk and cream.
- Use only cream for a richer and creamier dessert.
For tips using china grass or agar agar, look here.
To serve:
Pour the strawberry coulis over the chilled pannacotta, arrange a strawberry over it and serve.
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Stellar post, classic divinetaste – great pictures, delectable dessert – something I wouldn't venture into making, except you make it look breezy easy! And since I LOVE this dessert, I will take the plunge *very soon*.
That does look amazing, Anu. Such blemish-free gorgeous strawberries – i don't find a single box without a few dented berries or those having bad spots 🙁
the pictures are making me drool. Its an easy dessert to make and delicious.
U r looking so beautiful and nice presentation as always..vl surely try dis desert soon
you look as divine as the dessert you have prepared 🙂 Being a beauty blogger, I am also interested to know the lipstick shade you are using, if you don't mind. hehe
Looks divine! Can you please repost ingredients? for example amount of milk and agar agar is not clear.
Thanks
Swarna
Simi: Look forward to you trying this.
Nandita: Oh dear!
Mayuri: Yes it is..the efforts are hardly any in comparison to the end result.
ruchika: Thank you so much!
coralcrue: No problem! I'm wearing Girl About Town from MAC with MAC beet pencil I think.
Swarna: Do read the recipe carefully. There is a star next to both the ingredients and you have to just look below. 🙂
The panna cotta looks silky and perfectly smooth, no flecks or dribbles of imperfection. You look stunning x
it looks delicious!
Been wanting to try this ever since I had a veg. Panna Cotta topped with black currant coulis.. Simply delectable.
Now that the recipe's here, making it looks like a breeze.. Like they say, the best things in the world are simple!
Hi,
Your pictures look gorgeous and I can't wait to try making it. I have a question though.What cream should I use for this recipe? Will heavy cream work? Or should I use the canned table cream?
It looks wonderful! Lovely.
Thanks everybody.
Well said Nalini!
Anu- Yes you can use heavy cream. It will make the dessert rich, creamy and tasty.
Very gorgeous photographs.. you look so pretty! 🙂
Anu,
You look as beautiful, fresh and gorgeous as the strawberries!
Lovely presentation and great pics as usual!
Shobha
Hari Chandana /Shoba- Thanks! 🙂
Hi there,
The recipe looks really amazing and I can't wait to try it this weekend.
Id just like to check; what would you recommend: 10gm or 15gm agar agar to get a consistency that is soft yet doesn't crumble at the same time, which is quite firm as well?
Looking forward to your response.
Thank you
hello,
u luk really vryy prettyy…
i wanted to try out dis recipe but d ingredients are not vry clear.. the amt of agar agar used .. please help
Vanisha: Sorry for the delayed response. Try 10 gm please.
Vani: Thanks for your compliments. The amount of agar agar is mentioned at the end of the recipe. Please read carefully and you will get it. 🙂
Finally a veg panna cotta! Another wonderful recipe from Anushruti and like always, the recipe is perfect, follow it to the t and you end up with an amazing dessert. You never cease to amaze me! You made it so simple it got me wondering why all those amazing chefs on Masterchef couldn't get it right. Thank you 😀
[If I may say so, like Swarna pointed it out, it's easier to read the ingredients when they're written in different lines like in all your other recipes.]
Ronak: Thanks for your feedback, kind words and compliments.
Has anyone who commented actually made this dessert with agar?
I made this recipe using agar today and it turned out so firm (just with the 10gm) that I could cut it into slices and it was nothing like a panna cotta.
I have had a similar problem with a different recipe which. Agar is a lot stronger than gelatin and therefore sets a lot harder.
I might just do some trial and error of agar amounts.
But if anyone who has tried this recipe has any suggestions for me, I'd be very appreciative. I'm a vegetarian and panna cotta is my favourite dessert, I'm finding it very disheartening not being able to replicate it in my own home.
How long does this strawberry coulis keep when refrigerated? Also, any ideas on mulberry coulis – the sugar needed to balance the flavour? Thanks.
Nal: If the coulis is well cooked, it should last 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator and more than a week in the freezer.
Wonderful post and the recipe looks amazing.
Thanks for sharing such great post…. 🙂
Hii
M want to make dis but can I serve dis with
Your Black raisin nd plum compot instead of
Strwaberry coulis
Poonam: Yes you can!
Simply Stunning!!! …even the Pannacotta 😉
But really…Gonna try it right away…!!
Can u plz tell me whether Amul Cream can be used here or is it some other variety?
Thanks 🙂
Hi Anushruti, Lovely recipe and the panacotta photos are simply stunning. Can this panacotta be made with Amul cream ???
Ambarish, Radhika: Yes you can make this with Amul cream.
Thanks a lot Anu. Looking forward to making this wonderful panacotta
Tried this recipe yesterday with Amul cream. Turned out really tasty. The flavour of vanilla with strawberry coulis is simply superb and amazing.
Devyani- you are right! Happy you were able to experience this amazing taste!
Hi
wanna know the amount of china grass for this recipe plzzzzz….
Dee-Please refer to the end of the recipe.
very colorful recipe it is very delicious
hii anushruti…plss show a demo of this recipe…..i wld like to c the video as it wld make it easy for perfection…..just luv ur recipes & ur kitchen too…wld like to c ur kitchen & ur choice of utensils is also superb…luv u …sonal
Hi,
where can I buy agar agar in Mumbai. Most places just seem to stock the flavoured ready to cook ones….
pali- you will have to look for it in small grocery stores or kirana stores.
Hi Anushruti,
Tried this recipe for my italian themed lunch. Turned out very good. Just the right amount of sweetness..was perfect!!Thank you:-)
Hi Anushruti,
I always like to visit ur blog n try various dishes…..recently i tried eggless marble cake from ur blog n it was a big hit..In the above recipe of Pannacotta..for 1 litre of total liquid mixtur(500 ml of milk+5oo ml cream)u have used 10 gram of china grass threads…can u pls tell me if we r using agar agar powder instead of china grass threads.. how much(in tsps) we need to use for just 500 ml of total liquid mixture…that is(250 ml of milk+250 ml of cream)….??
Thanks,
Nimisha
Nimisha- I don't have access to agar agar powder so I cant give you an accurate measure. But, if you follow the liquid to agar agar powder ratio instructions given in the pack, I guess you'll be good to go!
Thanks for recipe but you mention agar agar but do not say when to add, how much etc. It's all about the Chinagrass
Please can u provide the agar agar recipe and method
Thanks
johannaD- Agar agar and china grass are the same.
Please mention the quantity of china grass needed
Dilekha- It is mentioned in the recipe.
Thank you! I actually didn't see it
Mam pls creat video to your recipe