Chocolate Panna Cotta with Lavender Cream

I love the smell of lavender but I don't often work with it as a dessert ingredient. It's a tricky ingredient to work with because lavender can easily overpower a dessert, resulting in the dessert tasting and smelling like a potpourri.

When I saw the this chocolate panna cotta recipe at Tartelette's blog, I was intrigued by the addition of Greek yogurt into it. I immediately thought of whipping up some lavender cream to go with her slightly sour chocolate panna cotta.

Instead of using fresh or dried lavender, I used the 'Just Lavender' tea I have in my pantry and let it infuse into the whipping cream overnight before whipping it.

Chocolate and lavender, always work well together.

Chocolate Panna Cotta and Lavender Cream Recipe
(Chocolate panna cotta recipe adapted from Tartelette)
Serves 6

Ingredients

1 tablespoon powdered gelatin
1/4 cup water
1 cup whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup honey
8 oz bittersweet chocolate
1 cup Greek yogurt
200 ml pure cream
10 g lavender tea

Method

1. Infuse the lavender tea in the cold single cream overnight.
2. Place the water in small bowl and sprinkle the gelatin over it. Reserve.
3. In a large heavy bottomed saucepan placed over medium heat, bring the milk, heavy cream, and honey to a simmer. When the cream is hot, remove from the heat and whisk in the chocolate until melted. Add the reserved gelatin and stir until it is completely dissolved. Add the yogurt and whisk vigorously until well blended.
4. Divide the mixture over the rice pudding ramekins. Let stand at room temperature for 20 minutes and then refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving to let the cream set properly.
5. Strain the lavender tea-infused cream, lightly whip before serving.
6. Serve the chocolate panna cotta with lavender cream.