This healthy golden milk turmeric panna cotta with agar agar is a light and creamy dessert, perfect for any time of year. It’s made without cream, yogurt and sugar to make a nourishing allergy friendly version of the classic Italian dessert that the whole family can enjoy. It’s gluten free, dairy free, sugar free, vegan and paleo, with an autoimmune protocol option.
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Jump To Section:-
- Benefits of this recipe
- Ingredients
- Equipment needed
- How to make panna cotta – step by step instructions
- Storage
- Frequently asked questions
- Diet requirements
- Other dessert recipes
- Other healthy sugar free recipes
- Recipe card
Benefits Of This Recipe
- Healthy. Panna cotta is typically made with cream and refined sugar, with even dairy free versions being made with coconut milk, which some people are sensitive and intolerant to. This recipe replaces cream with tiger nut milk, a naturally sweet plant based milk, preventing any sugar needing to be added. The panna cotta is flavoured with golden milk spices which have powerful anti inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties.
- Gluten free, dairy free & allergy friendly. This recipe is made without cream, yogurt and coconut using an allergy friendly plant based milk alternative as a substitute which maintains the same light and creamy texture.
- Quick and easy. It takes just 15 minutes to make following 3 easy steps before leaving the dessert to set.
Ingredients
- Agar agar powder (UK Link/US Link). A vegan alternative to gelatin, which helps the panna cotta set.
- Turmeric powder (UK Link/US Link). It contains curcurmin, which reduces inflammation and has strong anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties (1).
- Ceylon cinnamon powder (UK Link/US Link). Balances blood sugar levels and has powerful anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal properties (2). Ceylon cinnamon is higher quality than regular cassia and has a sweeter flavour (3).
- Ground cardamom (UK Link/US Link). Can reduce inflammation, improve blood circulation, aid digestion and fight bacteria (4). Omit for autoimmune protocol (AIP).
- Ground ginger (UK Link/US Link). Aids digestion and has powerful anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-bacterial and antioxidant properties, helping to boost the immune system (5).
- Ground black pepper (UK Link/US Link). Enhances the absorption of curcurmin by 2,000% (6). Omit for autoimmune protocol (AIP).
- Tiger nut milk. Contrary to what the name suggests, tiger nuts are a root vegetable not a nut. Tiger nut milk is an allergy free plant based milk alternative. It’s used instead of cream or coconut for the base of the panna cotta.
Please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post for the full ingredients list.
Equipment Needed
How To Make Panna Cotta – Step By Step Instructions
- In a small saucepan, whisk the turmeric powder, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, black pepper and agar agar powder into the tiger nut milk until dissolved. Leave to rest for 10 minutes.
- Bring the liquid to a boil over a medium heat, whisking constantly. When bubbles are covering the whole of the top surface, boil for 2 minutes over a medium heat, whisking constantly.
- Remove from the heat and pour the mixture into glass ramekins.
- Leave to cool completely at room temperature. Then, transfer to the fridge for 1-2 hours or until set. Remove from the fridge and serve with toppings of choice – tiger nut flakes or chopped fruit.
Storage
Fridge
Panna Cotta can be stored in a glass ramekin in the fridge for up to 2 days. When you want to eat it, simply remove it from the fridge and serve with toppings.
Freezer
The Panna Cottas can be frozen in freezer safe glass ramekins for up to 2 months. Ensure you cover the top tightly with beeswax wrap before storing to prevent freezer burns and label the ramekin with the date you freeze it so you know when to use it by. For any toppings, it’s best to avoid freezing them and only adding them when defrosted and ready to serve.
To defrost, transfer the Panna Cotta to the fridge for at least 12 hours, or overnight, until completely thawed. To ensure the Panna Cotta defrosts evenly and minimise the risk of it splitting and the texture spoiling, do not thaw at room temperature. Once thawed, add toppings of choice and serve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, tiger nut milk can be replaced with any plant based milk alternative, like almond milk. However, as tiger nut milk has a natural sweetness, you may need to add a natural refined sugar free sweetener, such as sweet freedom syrup if using a substitute.
No, it’s best to leave the Panna Cotta to cool at room temperature and then leave it to set in the fridge. Setting the Panna Cotta in the freezer causes it to set unevenly, with the outside setting quicker than the inside, which can negatively affect the texture. Once set completely in the fridge, the Panna Cotta can be transferred to the freezer to be stored if you’re not planning on eating it within 2 days.
Diet Requirements
This agar agar panna cotta is:-
- Gluten free
- Dairy free
- Lactose free
- Wheat free
- Soy free
- Egg free
- Nut free
- Grain free
- Oil free
- Refined sugar free
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- Paleo
- Autoimmune protocol AIP friendly (if omit ground cardamom and black pepper)
Other Dessert Recipes
Other Healthy Sugar Free Recipes
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Recipe Card
Panna Cotta With Agar Agar (Healthy, Sugar Free)
Equipment
- Glass ramekins 120 ml/4 oz – to store panna cottas in
Ingredients
- 1.25 cups tiger nut milk
- 1.5 tsp turmeric powder
- 1.5 tsp Ceylon cinnamon powder
- 0.5 tsp ground cardamom
- 0.25 tsp ground ginger
- pinch ground black pepper
- 0.5 tsp agar agar powder
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, whisk the turmeric powder, cinnamon, ginger, black pepper and agar agar powder into the tiger nut milk until dissolved. Leave to rest for 10 minutes.
- Bring the liquid to a boil over a medium heat, whisking constantly.
- When bubbles are covering the whole of the top of the surface, boil for 2 minutes over a medium heat, whisking constantly.
- Remove from the heat and pour the mixture into 2 glass ramekins.
- Leave to cool completely at room temperature. Then, transfer to the fridge for 1-2 hours or until set.
- Remove from the fridge and serve with toppings of choice – tiger nut flakes or chopped fruit.
Notes
Nutrition
Oh wow, this looks good! I’ve never tried panna cotta, and I’ve never used turmeric in anything even though I’ve been meaning to for a while given all the potential health benefits. I love the look of the texture. Nom nom – you’ve done brilliantly well with the recipe and photos!
Caz xx
Thank you so much Caz, I really appreciate your message. I’d never used turmeric either but now I have it everyday, I love it and, like you said, it has so many health benefits. I hope if you try the recipe you enjoy it. Let me know what you think if you make it 🙂 Lucy xx
This looks really tasty, I am unsure of the milk element and being as I need dairy to coat the iron and stop absorbing I will make it with skimmed milk. I have not made pannacota before but I love breakfast and could do with the turmeric for my joints. So thank you.
Hi Ellen, you’re welcome, thank you so much for your comment. If you make it with milk then you might need to add a sweetener. Tiger nut milk is naturally sweet so without it if you have a sweet tooth you might need to add something 🙂 I really hope you enjoy it. Please let me know what you think if you make it 🙂
Very interesting – I will pin this for reference and check it out
Thank you Esme, I hope you enjoy it if you try it.
I’ve never made panna cotta, but what a great idea to make a spicy, healthier version!
Thank you Mihaela, I hope you enjoy it if you try it!
This is a great recipe! Being a mixed household it embraces both our culinary traditions (Italian and Indian) and I love it!
Thank you so much Elle, I’m so glad you like it!
It is so good!! My kids really loved it and they want me to make it again soon! It was a huge hit.
Thank you so much Toni! I’m so pleased to hear your kids enjoyed it! Thank you for letting me know 🙂
This is a healthy dessert recipe that the whole family enjoys! It’s so light and I love the texture and flavors!
Thank you so much Amy, I’m so pleased you and your family enjoyed it!
I’m always looking for ways to add turmeric to my diet, and this panna cotta looks perfect! I can’t wait to give it a try!
Thank you so much Jessica, I appreciate your comment. I really hope you enjoy it, please let me know what you think!
This is such a clever idea. Love turmeric milk, but never thought to do anything like this with it. Can’t wait to try it.
Thank you so much Choclette. Turmeric and panna cotta is such a great combination, I only wish I’d thought of it making this dessert sooner. I hope you enjoy it if you try it. Please let me know what you think 🙂
This Panna cotta is a delicious way to incorporate more turmeric into my diet. Thanks for the recipe!
You’re welcome Crystal, thanks so much for your comment. I’m so pleased you enjoyed the Panna Cotta!
I love panna cotta and your recipe is easy to follow. All the spices come together so well into a delicious custard. Will be making again.
Thank you so much for letting me know Jere, I’m so pleased you enjoyed the Panna Cotta and found the recipe easy to follow.
I love panna cotta! This version is super healthy but also super delicious!
Thanks so much for letting me know Angela, I’m so glad you enjoyed the Panna Cotta!