Vegan Coconut Panna Cotta With Mango Jelly

Panna cotta is such an easy and versatile dessert. It requires little effort and sets in the fridge making it a cool treat perfect for the summer. I decided to give this panna cotta a tropical and vegan twist made easy with coconut milk and agar agar or agar powder. Agar powder is derived from red algae making it a vegan alternative to gelatin powder which is derived from animal products. This coconut panna cotta has a creamy pudding-like consistency and is slightly thicker in consistency than a regular panna cotta using gelatin.

One note about using agar powder is that a little goes a long way. It has a tendency to produce a more solid gel with less jiggle and creaminess if you add too much and doesn’t set as well when combined with acidic fruit or liquid that has a lot of additives or liquids. I love experimenting with agar powder and look forward to using it in many more vegan desserts.

I thought of many different pairings with this coconut panna cotta but kept circling back to mango. I love it and I miss having the best tasting mangoes while living in the Caribbean. There is nothing like mangoes off the tree. Of course coconut would be wonderful with just about any fruit - but I’m especially partial to it being paired with mangoes, passion fruit and pineapple. I said this recipe was versatile and it truly is when it comes to the jelly you decide to make it with. Feel free to substitute any fruit purée you would like for the mango jelly if you don’t have fresh or frozen mangoes available in your area.

It’s such a simple recipe and I just love making panna cotta. It looks super cute made in cups or ramekins. It’s great for company and the most perfect make ahead dessert. Hope you like it.

Recipe

Makes 4-6 depending on the size of cup or ramekin

Ingredients

For The Panna Cotta

• 3 cups of unsweetened coconut milk
• 4 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tsp agar powder
• ½ tsp vanilla extract

For The Mango Jelly

• 1 cup of mango purée (fresh or frozen pulp and blended or processed in food processor until smooth - if using frozen allow to thaw – approx 2-4 mangoes depending on size)
• 1 tbsp maple syrup (optional)
• ½ tsp agar powder
• Toasted coconut chips for garnishing

Directions

For The Panna Cotta

1. In a medium sized pot, whisk together all the panna cotta ingredients over medium heat.
2. Bring the mixture to a boil and then immediately take off the heat.
3. Pour the mixture equally between 4-6 ramekins or glasses.
4. Refrigerate for 2-4 hours until set.

For The Jelly

1. In a small pot over medium heat, bring all the ingredients to boil whisking often.
2. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly for a few minutes before pouring it over.
3. Return the panna cotta to the fridge for another hour for the mango to set.
4. Serve topped with toasted coconut chips