Strawberry Panna Cotta Tart

Here’s a wonderful recipe for you: a strawberry panna cotta tart, a dessert that combines the crunchiness of shortcrust pastry with the creaminess of panna cotta and the sweetness of strawberries.

Ingredients

For the shortcrust pastry:

• 300g of type 00 flour
• 150g of cold butter, cut into cubes
• 100g of icing sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 yolk
• Zest of 1 lemon
• A pinch of salt

For the panna cotta:

• 500ml of fresh cream
• 100g of sugar
• 1 vanilla bean
• 8g of sheet gelatin (or agar agar for a vegan version)

For the strawberry topping:

• 500g of fresh strawberries
• 50g of granulated sugar
• Juice of 1/2 lemon
• Some gelatin sheets (optional for those who want a firmer jelly)

Preparation

Shortcrust pastry:

1. In the bowl of a food processor, mix flour, icing sugar, lemon zest, and salt. Add the cold butter cubes and pulse until you get a sandy mixture.
2. Add the egg and yolk and mix briefly until a dough ball forms.
3. Wrap the dough in cling film and let it rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
4. Roll out the dough into an even layer and line a previously buttered and floured tart pan. Prick the base with a fork to prevent it from puffing up.
5. Bake at 180° C for about 20-25 minutes or until golden. Remove from the oven and let cool completely.

Panna cotta:

1. Soak the gelatin sheets in cold water for about 10 minutes.
2. In the meantime, warm the cream with sugar and the split vanilla bean and its seeds in a pot, without bringing it to a boil.
3. Squeeze the gelatin and dissolve it in the warm cream, stirring until fully absorbed.
4. Let the mixture cool slightly, then pour it over the cold shortcrust pastry base. Place in the refrigerator to set for at least 4 hours.

Strawberry topping:

1. Wash and cut the strawberries into slices or pieces, depending on your preference.
2. In a pan, cook the strawberries with sugar and lemon juice until they have softened and a light syrup has formed.
3. If you want to add gelatin, soak some gelatin sheets in cold water, squeeze them out, and add them to the hot strawberries until dissolved.
4. Let the strawberry mixture cool, then pour it over the set panna cotta.
5. Put the tart in the fridge until serving time.

Serve this delicious strawberry panna cotta tart as a fresh and irresistible dessert, perfect for a spring or summer day.

Fun Fact

Panna cotta is a traditional dessert from Piedmont and comes in various versions, from the classic one to different flavored variations or fruit pairings. The combination with strawberries is among the most appreciated for its freshness and for the contrast between the cream’s sweetness and the slight acidity of the strawberries.