Panna Cotta with Toasted Sesame and Lime

About This Recipe

Panna cotta, meaning 'cooked cream' in Italian, is a Piedmontese dessert built on a simple technique: cream and sugar gently heated, set with just enough gelatin to hold its shape while still trembling delicately when unmolded. Its simplicity is exactly what makes it a canvas for infusions, and here, toasted sesame seeds steeped directly in the warm cream lend a nutty, faintly savory depth, brightened by fresh lime zest. The technique that separates good panna cotta from rubbery, over-set panna cotta is restraint with the gelatin — too much and it turns bouncy and dense rather than silky, so measuring carefully and not overcooking the cream mixture both matter. Steeping the sesame seeds and straining them out before setting keeps the texture smooth rather than gritty. Traditionally unmolded onto a plate and served with a fruit coulis or caramel, this version leans on the lime's acidity to cut through the richness of the cream, a modern twist on a dessert that has stayed largely unchanged in Northern Italy for generations.

Ingredients

Serves 4

• 2 cupsheavy cream
• 0.5 cupwhole milk
• 0.33 cupsugar
• 3 tbspwhite sesame seeds(toasted)
• 2 tsppowdered gelatin
• 3 tbspcold water
• 1 tbsplime zest
• 1 tbsplime juice
• 1 pinchfine sea salt
• 1 tbsptoasted sesame seeds(extra, for garnish)

Instructions

1. 1

   Bloom the gelatin

   Sprinkle gelatin over cold water in a small bowl. Let sit 5-10 minutes until it softens and swells.

2. 2

   Infuse the cream

   Combine heavy cream, milk, sugar, toasted sesame seeds, and salt in a saucepan. Heat over medium-low, stirring, until steaming and the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes — do not let it boil.

3. 3

   Steep and strain

   Remove from heat and let steep 15 minutes so the sesame flavor infuses the cream. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, pressing on the sesame seeds to extract flavor, then discard the solids.

4. 4

   Dissolve the gelatin

   Reheat the strained cream gently just until warm again, then whisk in the bloomed gelatin until fully dissolved.

5. 5

   Add lime

   Stir in lime zest and lime juice, mixing well.

6. 6

   Set the panna cotta

   Divide among 4-6 ramekins or small glasses. Refrigerate at least 4 hours, or overnight, until fully set with a gentle wobble.

7. 7

   Serve

   Unmold by briefly dipping ramekins in warm water and inverting onto plates, or serve directly in the glasses. Garnish with extra toasted sesame seeds.

Variations

• •

  Use black sesame seeds for a striking gray color and slightly more bitter, toasty flavor.

• •

  Swap lime for blood orange zest and juice for a different citrus profile.

• •

  Serve with a quick strawberry or mango coulis spooned over the top for extra brightness.

Storage

Refrigerate covered up to 4 days. Panna cotta does not freeze well, as the texture becomes grainy and separates upon thawing.

Frequently Asked Questions