Matcha Panna Cotta (抹茶意式奶凍)

 
 
 
 
Are you a Matcha tea lover?  I drink tea everyday and definitely enjoy a cup of matcha every now and then.  Turned out, I did shared quite a few recipes that were made with matcha.  Check them out at the end of this post if you’re interest.       
 

 
 
Today’s recipe is truly a culinary advanture of “East meets West”.  I used a traditional Asian ingredient and incorporated it into a traditional Italian dessert.  Let me present to you, Matcha Panna Cotta (抹茶意式奶凍)!



Matcha (Japanese Green Tea) refers to finely milled or fine powdered green tea. The Japanese tea ceremony centers on the preparation, serving, and drinking of matcha.  Nowadays, matcha is also used to flavor foods such as mochi, soba noodles and a variety of Japanese confectionery.  It has a deep, grassy and slightly bitter taste.  It’s extremely earthy and could be an acquired taste if you haven’t tried it before.   If you like this Japanese Green Tea, then you’re going to love this dessert.   



Be sure to check out the list of ingredients and tools used in this post.  Most of the items are available in Asian supermarkets.  If you don’t have Asian markets near where you live, fortunately, these items are widely available online as well!



As you can see from my video tutorial above, as well as the pictures on this post, I’ve prepared this Matcha Panna Cotta in different containers.  You can serve them in small tea cups, small dessert glasses, or ramekins (then turn them upside down onto serving plates as shown in picture above).


 
This is definitely a decadent recipe.  The texture is smooth and silky.  It’s not overly sweet but packed with deep and earthy wonderful matcha aroma.  Did you notice that I topped the panna cotta with a small piece of edible gold leaf!?
 

 
 
 
Ingredients and tools used:
Matcha Powder (Click here for more information)
Edible Gold Leaf (Click here for more information)
Bamboo Whisk (Click here for more information)
Chawan Tea Bowl (Click here for similar product)
Small Bamboo Spoon (Click here to see similar product)
Shoji Paper Window Blinds backdrop (Click here to see product information)
Ceramic Rice Bowls (click here to see similar product)
Bamboo Placemats (Click here for more information)
 
 
Other Matcha Recipes:                                                        
                                           











Matcha Ice Cream (抹茶雪糕)

                                                         
 

Matcha Shortbread Cookies (抹茶酥餅)

Iced Matcha (冰鎮抹茶)



Coconut Shaved Ice with Matcha (Green Tea) Mini Mochi

 

 
Matcha (Japanese Green Tea) Tiramisu

 

 
Matcha (Japanese Green Tea) Mousse Cheesecake with Pistachio Crust

 

 
Homemade Matcha (Green Tea) Pocky 自家製抹茶百力滋

How to Make Raspberry Panna Cotta

I can’t quite believe it’s December already!  Time has past by a little too quickly this year, in my opinion.  Are you ready for the holidays?  If you’re looking for an entertaining, or a made-for-party, dessert recipe, you’ve stopped by at the right place at the perfect time.  Check out these gorgeous Raspberry Panna Cotta and I’m sure you’ll agree.  Click on the YouTube video above to watch the step-by-step video tutorial on how to make them.




The raspberry layer is slightly sweet and tart.  It’s super refreshing and packed with the floral fragrant of raspberries.  It pairs really well with the smooth and sweet vanilla bean panna cotta layer.  The red and white layers are so festive.  These gorgeous colors simply put me in the happy holiday mood. 




We’ve been tuning in to different radio stations when we’re on the road, and the Christmas songs always make me smile.  It’s probably one of the best time of the year for most people.  At the same time, I remember those who are less fortunate out there.  Just last week, I heard on the radio that a couple (whom preferred to remain anonymous) donated 500K to the Salvation Army!  It was probably one of the best news I’ve heard all year long!  That really touched me that there are still generous and kind people out there.  I know most of us don’t have that kind of money to donate, but there are many other things that we can do to help.  From pantry items to gently used clothes donated to your local non-profit organizations; or simply purchase a “Grab ‘N Give” bag at the grocery check out.  These are just some of the many ways that we can give-back to the community.



To me, it’s a privilege that I have the ability to help others, even in the smallest scale.  This holiday season, I want to encourage you to do the same.  It always makes me feel happy to know that a small gesture can bring big smiles on someone’s face.  




Last but not least, thank you for reading and stopping by my blog.  I hope you like today’s post and recipe.  I’ll be sharing more holiday recipes soon.  Stay tuned.

P.S.: Don't forget to enter the current Giveaways:

$100 Visa Gift Card Giveaway (Open to U.S. only, ending 12/31/2015)
Ultimate Paper Airplanes for Kids (Open Worldwide, ending 12/6/2015)






Tools and Ingredients used:

Libby Small Dessert Cups Set: (More information here)
Wilton Mini Muffin Pan: (More information here)
Pyrex 4 Cups Heat Proof Measuring Cup: (More information here)
Vanilla Bean Paste: (More information here)
Unflavored Gelatin Powder: (More information here)
Organic Cane Sugar (Click here for more information)
Wood Print Photography Backdrop (Click here to see similar product)

Mango Panna Cotta

Are you enjoying the warmer days of the Spring so far?  Well, it’s been feeling like summer already in Southern California, all winter long!  So, my mind and body have been adopted for summery treats for a while.  Today, I want to share with you one of my favorite summer time no-bake dessert, Mango Panna Cotta. 


 
In this recipe, I used the Ataulfo mangoes.  In Asia, the Ataulfo Mangos, also known as Manila Mangos or Champagne Mangos, are far more popular than the Tommy Atkins Mangos.  In fact, I didn’t even learn about the Tommy Atkins Mango until I moved to the States.  The Ataulfo mango is skinnier, with bright orange/yellowish skin and flesh as shown in my pictures on this post.  The skin is rather thin and the seed is quite flat.  The flesh from the Ataulfo mango is very tender and smooth.  It’s very refreshing, sweet and have a pleasant floral tone, which is perfect for this dessert.  On the other hand, a Tommy Atkins mango is bigger in size, overall, and the skin color is a combination of red and green, even when fully ripen.  The skin and the seed are thicker compared to Ataulfo.  Also, the flesh is more fiber-ous and firmer.  
 
 


The texture of this Mango Panna Cotta is silky soft and smooth.  It’s slightly sweetened with a perfect hint of tartness from the mango.  The vanilla bean panna cotta layer is packed with sweet aroma from the vanilla bean paste and is the perfect combination to elevate this dessert.   This Mango Panna Cotta is so elegant yet pretty easy to prepare.  If you’re hosting any summer party, be sure to “wow” your guests with this refreshing dessert.



Here’s the video tutorial on how to make it.  Please click on the Youtube video below.







I hope you enjoyed watching my video tutorial.  If you haven’t done so, please subscribe to my Youtube channel here.  That way, you won’t miss out on any video and you’ll be the first to know when I have a new tutorial published. 
 
 
 
I hope you like today’s recipe and video.  Please stay tuned for more tutorials, easy and fun recipes in the near future.  What is your favorite no-bake summer dessert?  Please share it in the comment section below.  I always love to try new things.  Can't wait to hear from you.
 
P.S.  If you haven’t entered the $100 visa gift card giveaway on my blog, there’s still time to enter (Deadline to enter is 6/30/2015).  Click here and leave a comment on the giveaway post to enter.  Good Luck!
 
 


Tools and Ingredients used:

Libby Small Dessert Cups Set: (More information here)
Wilton Mini Muffin Pan: (More information here)
Pyrex 4 Cups Heat Proof Measuring Cup: (More information here)
Mango Nectar: (More information here)
Vanilla Bean Paste: (More information here)
Unflavored Gelatin Powder: (More information here)