Passion-Fruit Gelée with Basil Cream

An elegant layered dessert featuring a passion fruit gelée base topped with a creamy basil-infused layer. This sophisticated dessert combines the tropical sweetness of passion fruit with aromatic fresh basil for a unique flavor combination.

4 servings
3 hr

Ingredients

  • teaspoons unflavored gelatin
  • ¼ cup water
  • 2 cups passion-fruit nectar
  • ½ cup fresh basil leaves
  • ½ cup sugar
  • cups heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 4 leaves fresh basil leaves
  • 1 piece empty egg carton and glasses

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Sprinkle gelatin over water in a small saucepan and let stand 1 minute to soften. Cook over low heat, stirring, until gelatin is dissolved, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in 1 tablespoon passion-fruit nectar at a time until gelatin mixture is cool, then whisk in remaining nectar.

    5 min

  2. 2.

    Transfer to a metal bowl and set bowl into a larger bowl half-filled with ice and cold water. Let stand, stirring occasionally, until gelée is consistency of raw egg white, 15 to 25 minutes.

    20 min

  3. 3.

    Put egg carton in a shallow baking pan and arrange glasses in carton, then tilt glasses to a 45-degree angle. Divide gelée among glasses. Carefully transfer pan with glasses to refrigerator and chill until gelée is set, at least 1 hour.

    60 min

  4. 4.

    Pulse basil, sugar, and a pinch of salt in a food processor until finely chopped, then transfer to a bowl and add cream, stirring just until sugar is dissolved.

    5 min

  5. 5.

    Sprinkle gelatin over water in a small saucepan and let stand 1 minute to soften. Cook over low heat, stirring, until gelatin is dissolved, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in 1 tablespoon basil cream at a time until gelatin mixture is cool, then whisk in remaining cream. Pour through a fine-mesh sieve into a metal bowl, pressing hard on solids and then discarding them.

    10 min

  6. 6.

    Set bowl in a larger bowl half-filled with ice and cold water and let stand, stirring occasionally, until cream is consistency of raw egg white, 15 to 25 minutes.

    20 min

  7. 7.

    Holding 1 glass of gelée at a 45-degree angle, slowly fill glass with basil cream, gradually righting glass as filled. Fill remaining glasses in same manner. Chill, covered, until set, at least 1 hour.

    60 min

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