Vanilla! It's a star, not just a background player, and Joe wants to know how to show it off to the best effect.
I recently came back from a trip to Mexico. While there, I visited a number of grocery stores to stock up on hard to find goodies like chiles and coffee. I also grabbed a large quantity of natural vanilla extract. I'd like to cook something with the vanilla other than ice cream that showcases it as an ingredient rather than just a background note like in most cookies. Any ideas?
- Joe
Joe, we love this question because we love vanilla too. Even though vanilla beans will give you the clearest, richest flavor, they're not right for everything, and a good high quality vanilla extract will give you great results.
We would lean towards very simple, milk-based desserts like pudding and panna cotta that will showcase the delicate flavor of vanilla. Panna cotta is a simple, deliciously soft pudding that is thickened with gelatin instead of eggs. This recipe from Epicurious - Vanilla Panna Cotta With Mixed-Berry Compote (pictured above) - looks right on the spot. Use frozen organic berries or substitute a more seasonal fruit.
We love panna cotta with red wine syrup, too, or a little warmed honey steeped with rosemary. When strawberries come into season you can make this: Panna Cotta With Strawberries And Balsamic Vinegar - or use frozen. Also see our post on blancmange - a similar dessert.
Also try our simple and easy Homemade Vanilla Pudding, where vanilla can shine as the star flavor. We love to layer this with baked phyllo dough for easy napoleons, or with fruit for beautiful parfaits.
Here are some more vanilla links - really, we love vanilla!
Vanilla!
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Recipe: Phyllo Napoleons with Blackberry Sauce and Vanilla Cream
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Recipe: Spiced Cream and Plum Verrines
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Tip: Making Vanilla Sugar
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Sources: Vanilla Beans in Bulk
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Technique: Homemade Vanilla Extract
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Recipe: Thomas Jefferson's Vanilla Ice Cream
More ideas for Joe?
(Images: Chef's Catalog, Mark Thomas for Bon Appetit)
Vanilla bean scones caught my eye one morning at Starbucks. They were delightful and they tasted so good that I want to reproduce the recipe myself.
But I'm glad I only tried one scone as I discovered that, despite their diminutive size, they are 240 calories each. But they're defnitely worth a splurge now and then.
view hazelnut_spread's profile
Vanilla scones! Yum - if you come up with a recipe will you tell us? They sound delicious.
view faith's profile
How about something savory?
Like caramelized sweet potatoes with vanilla.
Or rhutabaga puree with vanilla.
Not savory, but delicious: Stone ground oats stewed in milk, honey and vanilla.
view art's profile
Hi Faith - sounds like this foodie is very confident about their Starbucks Vanilla Bean scone doppleganger:
http://www.recipezaar.com/201719
view hazelnut_spread's profile
I made whipped sweet potatoes with vanilla last Thanksgiving. They were amazing.
view millzee's profile