I am making Thanksgiving dinner in tandem with Emma this year, and since we're working on the meal together, we have the luxury and time to make a few extra little things. This year, I was inspired by these tiny pie dishes I found at Crate & Barrel. What about an amuse-bouche, I thought — a small, whimsical bite with a traditional Thanksgiving flavor to start off the meal.
I decided to try a little savory panna cotta — a silky bite of tangy goat cheese and herbs, topped with a cut-out shape of cranberry jelly — from the can! (That jellied stuff is splendidly suited to making cut-outs.) They tasted wonderful — the rich, creamy goat cheese with herbs pairs perfectly with sweet and tangy cranberry jelly.
Now, these things sound difficult, but they are actually ridiculously easy. I mean, ridiculously. And they look absolutely adorable! You could do them in larger sizes for a true starter or appetizer, too. I made them in mini-muffin cups, so that they would fit in the tiny pie plates. They fit perfectly.
I'm already thinking about next year. Turkey aspic, perhaps?
Goat Cheese Panna Cotta with Canned Cranberry Jelly Cut-Outs
makes about 24 bite-sized pieces
4 ounces goat cheese, at room temperature
1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
1 cup cream
1/2 cup whole-milk yogurt
1/4 cup finely-minced chives, plus extra to garnish
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1 can cranberry jelly
Chop or crumble the goat cheese finely into a bowl and set aside. Sprinkle the gelatin over 1/4 cup water in a separate bowl and set aside. Lightly grease the cups of a 24-cup mini-muffin pan with baking spray or vegetable oil.
Warm the cream over medium-high heat until small bubbles form around the edges. Stir in the goat cheese and keep stirring until it melts into the cream. Turn off the heat and add the softened gelatin. Whisk vigorously until the gelatin and any remaining bits of goat cheese are thoroughly incorporated. Stir in the yogurt and the chives. Taste season with salt and pepper.
Transfer the warm cream mixture to a glass measuring cup and carefully fill each well of the prepared mini-muffin pan. Refrigerate for four hours, or overnight.
When ready to serve, open the cranberry jelly. Release the entire cylinder of cranberry jelly by running a thin knife around the inside of the can. Slice the jelly into 1/4-inch thick slices, and use small cookie cutters or a narrow shot glass to cut out shapes.
Line a large baking sheet with parchment. Run hot water over the bottom of the mini-muffin pan, briefly. Unmold the panna cotta by flipping the warmed pan over the baking sheet.
Top each panna cotta with a slice of cranberry jelly and garnish with minced chives.
Related: Recipe: Rosewater Yogurt Panna Cotta with Blueberries
(Images: Faith Durand)
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Oh, that is such a great idea! They are almost too pretty to eat.
Love the idea of cranberry jelly cutouts.
food looks good. styrofoam plates don't
mariyaodessa- if you are implying the food in the pics above is in styrofoam, i don't think is is. It looks like the work of Lorena Barrezueta.
http://www.lorenabarrezueta.com/index.html
Yes, they are actually these Mini Pie Dishes from Crate and Barrel.
was wondering if the panna cottas can be frozen? has anyone tried it, and with what results?
These are adorable!
TP1 freezing actually degrades gelatin pretty badly, so I wouldn't recommend it. But these can be made several days ahead - no problem. I wouldn't mind making these even a week ahead, as long as they are made with really fresh dairy, and stored in an extremely airtight container. (Panna cotta is especially susceptible to picking up other flavors in the fridge.)