History

Panna cotta was first documented in Piedmont in the early 20th century; the simplest version uses three ingredients (cream, sugar, gelatin) and a slow gentle simmer. It crossed into international restaurant menus in the 1980s as nouvelle Italian. The canonical Piedmontese version is unflavoured, served with a fruit coulis or caramel.

Common allergens: Milk

Make it at home

Yield 6Hands-on 20 minTotal 4 hrDifficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • 600 ml double cream
  • 80g caster sugar
  • 1 vanilla pod, split and seeds scraped
  • 5g gelatin (about 2 sheets, soaked in cold water)
  • Wild strawberries, raspberries or caramel sauce, to serve

Method

  1. In a saucepan combine the cream, sugar and vanilla pod with seeds; bring just to a simmer on low, stirring.
  2. Squeeze excess water from the soaked gelatin sheets; remove pan from heat and stir gelatin in until dissolved.
  3. Strain into six lightly-oiled moulds or ramekins; refrigerate at least 4 hours, ideally overnight.
  4. To unmould, dip the bottom of each ramekin in hot water for 5 seconds and invert onto plates; top with berries or caramel.

Tip from the editors. Use a small amount of gelatin; the canonical panna cotta wobbles, never bounces.

Where to eat panna cotta

Panna Cotta in Turin

Tre Galline ★ 4.4

Piedmontese TraditionChef Andrea Chiuni and Luigi Rosato€€€€55-85quadrilatero-romanoMon-Fri 19:30-22:30; Sat 12:30-14:15, 19:30-23:00Book 1 to 2 weeks ahead

Tre Galline in Turin's Quadrilatero has run an inn on this street since the mid-XVI century. Bollito misto trolley, battuta of Fassona, vitello tonnato.

Consorzio ★ 4.5

Piedmontese TraditionChef Pietro Vergano€€€€55-75quadrilatero-romanoTue-Sat 12:00-14:30, 19:00-22:30Book 1 to 2 weeks ahead

Consorzio in Turin's Quadrilatero Romano is a slow-food trattoria with a fine-dining wine list. Agnolotti del plin, finanziera ravioli, deep cellar.

Pastificio Defilippis ★ 4.6

Fresh Pasta, Piedmontese€€centro-storicoMon-Fri 12:30-15:00 and 19:30-22:30, Sat 12:30-15:00 and 19:30-22:30, Sun 12:30-15:00 and 19:30-22:00

Pastificio Defilippis on Via Lagrange in Turin has rolled handmade pasta since 1872, opened by a Savoy chef. Agnolotti are the order, open seven days.

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