'I Tried Ina’s One-Bowl Panna Cotta With Strawberries'

Ina Garten, known for her effortless entertaining, is at it once again! This time with a beginner-friendly dessert, perfect for summer and beyond. Garten's Panna Cotta with Balsamic Strawberries will become your go-to dessert long after your swimsuits and beach towels are packed away. If you've never made panna cotta before, let me tell you Garten's recipe is super easy and to die for!

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Related: 19 Classic Ina Garten Recipes That Prove She's the GOAT

This is not a new recipe for Garten—in fact, the original was included in her 2006 cookbook: Barefoot Contessa at Home, where she describes how this recipe is based on one from the famous NYC restaurant Babbo in NYC.

However, Garten has been on a  kick recently sharing delicious strawberry recipes on her Instagram, which is actually where I stumbled upon this one. Thank God for Insta or I might have missed trying this decadent treat!

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What Is Panna Cotta?

Panna Cotta is a classic Italian dessert, that is said to have its origins in Northern Italy. It's both elegant and simple. Similar to a soft-set pudding, panna cotta is a sweetened dairy mixture, (typically a combo of milk or cream or yogurt) which is thickened and holds its shape with the aid of a small amount of gelatin. This common panna cotta ingredient is what gives the dessert its silky smooth texture.

What Makes Garten's Panna Cotta Shine?

Once you master the base recipe, panna cotta literally can be made in all shapes, sizes and flavors.  For example, replacing vanilla with almond extract is a nice tasty twist. And using a glass vs a ramekin is another nice option. What sets Garten's recipe apart from others though is the balsamic strawberries she serves over top. The sweetness of the berries cuts the acidity of the vinegar and adds a nice flavor boost to the entire dessert. The other thing I love about this panna cotta is the flecks of vanilla bean throughout and the zested lemon on top. Both are a nice touch.

Ingredients Needed

This dessert requires very few ingredients which means using the highest quality of each for the best results.

• unflavored gelatin powder

• heavy cream

• whole milk yogurt

• vanilla bean

• vanilla extract

• sugar

• strawberries

• balsamic vinegar

• lemon zest

How To Make Panna Cotta Like Ina Garten

Making Garten's panna cotta, at least from my experience, is easy to master. And although it requires a few hours or more to set the actual hands-on time is minimal.

1. To make panna cotta, start with the custard, which requires blooming the gelatin. This might be the hardest part…which isn’t even really hard. It's just important to remember when working with gelatin that you need to let it rest for just a few minutes before adding it to your dairy.

2. The next step is heating 1/2 of the milk and yogurt, and adding in the bloomed gelatin. This all gets poured into the other half of the milk and yogurt which you whisk together.

3. Finally, you fill your ramekins or your preferred vessel and refrigerated for at least 4 hours.

4. When ready to serve, toss the strawberries with the sugar and balsamic vinegar and let them sit at room temperature for a few minutes. You will notice some liquid forming this is the maceration process happening. Serve your panna cotta either in the ramekins with the strawberries on top or you can unmold and serve on a plate. Either way, the presentation is divine. To remove the panna cotta from the mold gently run a knife around the edge, invert on a plate and viola! Garnish with your strawberries and lemon zest.

Ina Garten's Panna Cotta with Balsamic Strawberries Review

Final thoughts? Hand's down another winner from The Barefoot Contessa. Garten's addition of balsamic strawberries to this basic custard is eye-opening, fresh and delightful. Even my finickiest friends loved this sweet treat.

For More Ina Garten Recipes, Check Out:

• Herbed Goat Cheese

• Chicken Pot Pie

• Orange Marmalade Ham

• Chipotle Cheddar Crackers

• Ina Garten's Brownie Pudding Recipe