This recipe is adapted from one in Claudia Fleming's The Last Course (Random House, 2001). Panna cotta means cooked cream.
SERVES 6
Ingredients:
1 1/2 tsp. unflavored gelatin
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
7 tbsp. sugar
1/2 vanilla pod, split lengthwise
1 3/4 cups buttermilk
Instructions:
1. Soften gelatin in 1 tbsp. cold water in a medium bowl for about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, put cream and sugar into a small saucepan. Scrape seeds from vanilla pod into pan, then add pod. Heat
cream over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves, 3–5 minutes, then stir into bowl with gelatin.
Stir in buttermilk, then strain into another bowl.
2. Divide custard between six 8-oz. ramekins and refrigerate until set, about 3 hours. To unmold, dip ramekins into a dish of hot water, then invert custards onto plates. Garnish with
raspberries or other fruit, if you like.