Chamomile panna cotta

Panna cotta is one of those #italiandesserts that is very easy to make and it's delicious in many combinations. I was inspired by non-other than Heston Blumenthal reading through his book Heston Blumenthal at Home

Chamomile panna cotta

Of course, I had to make my own version and I used clotted cream for a decadent result, but you can use the same quantities of double cream instead.

The ingredients will make 2 or 3 depending on your size container. I used IKEA moulds of about 7 cm, but you could use glasses without having to unmould.

Heston's recipe requires fructose to prepare chamomile sugar. I used caster instead.

Chamomile panna cotta

Ingredients:

• 2 chamomile tea bags

• 175 g whole milk

• 125 g clotted cream, I used Roddas

• 3 g gelatine leaves - softened in cold water

• 30 g icing sugar

• 50 g caster sugar

To serve:

• 2 tbsp caster sugar

• crushed meringues - shop bought or you can easily make your own

• edible flowers - now available at M&S

Method:

1. Place a tea bag and milk into a saucepan and bring to a simmer on low to medium heat. Once the liquid simmers, take off the heat and allow to infuse for 15 minutes or longer.

2. Warm the clotted cream, 150 g of the infused milk (discard or drink the rest) and sugar in a saucepan without letting this boil.

3. Add the gelatine completely drained and dissolve. Pass through a sieve into moulds or glasses. If using moulds, use a little coconut oil to ease demolding later.

4. The additional step if you wanted to, is to sieve the mixture into a bowl over simmering water and wait for it to reach custard consistency before pouring into moulds.

5. Place the panna cotta to set into the fridge for about 8 hours or overnight.

6. To make your chamomile sugar, mix the content of the second chamomile bag and the sugar. This is great used over fruit as well.