Milk, salted almond, juniper
A sophisticated dessert that balances the piney, gin-like aroma of juniper berries with the silky richness of whole milk. Topped with a savory-sweet salted almond crumble, this dish offers a perfect interplay of textures and unexpected botanical notes.
Prep
15m
Cook
10m
Serves
4
1 Ingredients
| Qty | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| 1.5 cups 360 ml | Whole Milk |
| 0.5 cup 120 ml | Heavy Cream |
| 0.25 cup 50 g | Granulated Sugar |
| 1 tbsp 5 g | Dried Juniper Berries |
| 2 tsp 7 g | Gelatin Powder |
| 2 tbsp 30 ml | Cold Water |
| 0.5 cup 70 g | Whole Raw Almonds |
| 0.5 tsp 3 g | Flaky Sea Salt |
| 1 tbsp 20 g | Honey |
2 Method
Step 1. In a small bowl, sprinkle the gelatin over the cold water and let it bloom for 5 minutes.
Step 2. Lightly crush the juniper berries using a mortar and pestle or the back of a spoon to release their aromatic oils.
Step 3. In a medium saucepan, combine the milk, heavy cream, and sugar. Add the crushed juniper berries.
Step 4. Heat the mixture over medium heat until it just begins to simmer, then immediately remove from heat. Cover and let it steep for 10 minutes.
Step 5. While the milk is steeping, toast the almonds in a dry pan over medium heat until fragrant. Roughly chop the toasted almonds and toss them with the honey and flaky sea salt to create a sticky crumble.
Step 6. Strain the milk mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl to remove the juniper berries.
Step 7. Whisk the bloomed gelatin into the warm milk mixture until completely dissolved and smooth.
Step 8. Pour the liquid into four ramekins or decorative glasses. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or until the panna cotta is completely set.
Step 9. Before serving, top each panna cotta with a generous spoonful of the salted almond crumble.
💡 Chef's Tips
-
·
For an extra layer of flavor, lightly toast the juniper berries in the pan for 30 seconds before crushing.
-
·
Ensure the milk mixture is warm but not boiling when adding the gelatin; boiling can weaken the gelatin's setting properties.
-
·
To unmold the panna cotta, dip the bottom of the ramekin in warm water for 5 seconds and run a thin knife around the edge.
-
·
Use high-quality flaky sea salt like Maldon for the best texture and 'pop' of flavor in the almond topping.
Be the first to leave a comment.