Chamomile Panna Cotta With Quince

A delicate Italian dessert featuring chamomile-infused panna cotta paired with poached quinces. The creamy panna cotta is made with Greek yogurt and vanilla, while the quinces are slowly poached until they turn a beautiful pinkish-red color.

8 servings
6 hr 50 min

Ingredients

  • 6 whole Small quinces
  • 1 bag chamomile tea
  • 4 strips lemon zest
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ½ bean vanilla bean
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 cup plain whole-milk Greek yogurt
  • cups heavy cream
  • cups whole milk
  • cup sugar
  • 1 pinch kosher salt
  • 4 bags chamomile tea
  • ½ bean vanilla bean
  • 2 teaspoons unflavored powdered gelatin
  • 8 pieces glasses or ramekins

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Rub quinces with a damp paper towel to remove fuzz. Cut 4 quinces into large pieces (no need to peel, core, or remove seeds); set remaining 2 quinces aside. Place quince pieces in a large saucepan and add cold water to cover. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, adding more water as needed to keep covered, until quinces are very soft, 60-75 minutes. Straincooking liquid into a large bowl; discard solids. Wipe out saucepan and reserve.

    75 min

  2. 2.

    Meanwhile, peel reserved quinces and cut flesh off of cores into 4 lobes (be careful; core is very hard). Place in reserved saucepan and add tea bag, lemon zest, sugar, and quince cooking liquid. Scrape in vanilla seeds; add pod. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and gently simmer, stirring occasionally, until quinces are a deep pinkish-red and tender and liquid is syrupy, 45-60 minutes. Let quinces cool in syrup, then stir in lemon juice. Remove pod.

    60 min

  3. 3.

    Quinces can be poached 5 days ahead. Cover and chill.

  4. 4.

    Place yogurt in a medium bowl and gradually add heavy cream, whisking until smooth.

    5 min

  5. 5.

    Bring milk, sugar, and salt to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Add tea bags and scrape in vanilla seeds; add pod. Remove from heat and let sit until flavors are infused, 15-20 minutes.

    20 min

  6. 6.

    Meanwhile, sprinkle gelatin over 1/4 cup cold water in a small bowl; let sit 10 minutes to soften.

    10 min

  7. 7.

    Reheat milk mixture over medium-low just until steaming. Remove from heat and add gelatin, stirring to dissolve. Strain into bowl with yogurt mixture; discard solids. Whisk until smooth. Pour into glasses or ramekins, dividing evenly. Chill panna cotta until set, at least 4 hours. Serve topped with poached quinces and syrup.

    240 min

  8. 8.

    Panna cotta can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and keep chilled.