Lemon Balm Panna Cotta
- Vegetable oil or nonstick spray
- 2 cups gently packed lemon balm leaves and small stems
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 cup sugar
- Pinch of salt
- 1 1/4 ounce envelope unflavored gelatin
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- Lightly oil or spray six 8- or 12-ounce ramekins.
- Place lemon balm in a mixing bowl and sprinkle with lemon juice, sugar and salt.
- Stir to combine, and allow to sit for 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, place 3 tablespoons cold water in a small bowl and sprinkle with gelatin; allow to soften for 10 minutes.
- Add cream to lemon balm and stir, gently crushing leaves.
- In a medium saucepan, heat milk just until steaming, then add gelatin mixture and remove from heat.
- Stir until gelatin is dissolved, about 2 minutes.
- Place a fine-mesh strainer over saucepan, and pour in lemon balm mixture.
- Press hard on leaves to strain out all the liquid, then discard leaves.
- Stir liquid, then distribute evenly among ramekins.
- Place in refrigerator until chilled and solid, at least four hours.
- After 4 hours, ramekins may be covered and refrigerated for up to 2 days.
- To serve, dip each ramekin in hot water and invert to release panna cotta onto a plate.
- Serve immediately.
vegetable oil, gently packed, lemon juice, sugar, salt, unflavored gelatin, heavy cream, milk
Taken from cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/9455 (may not work)