Sugar-Free Vegan Panna Cotta
Discover a sugar-free vegan panna cotta recipe. Learn how to use lucuma as a natural sweetener and agar-agar for gut health in this dessert.
Servings 6 portions
Calories 111kcal
Ingredients
- 4 cups Unsweetened almond milk (Or any plant-based milk of your choice) 1 liter
- 1 Cinnamon stick
- Lemon peel Large strips from half a lemon, avoid the white pith.
- 2 tsp Agar-agar powder (This is the plant-based gelling agent) 5g
- 1 tbsp Lucuma powder A natural Peruvian sweetener.
- Nuts for garnish Hazelnuts or walnuts
- Dark chocolate 85–92% cocoa: For grating or shaving on top.
Instructions
- Infuse the Milk: Pour the almond milk into a medium saucepan and heat it gently over medium-low heat. Add the lemon peel and the cinnamon stick. Bring it close to a simmer, but do not let it boil. Turn off the heat and let it sit for about 10–15 minutes to infuse the flavors.
- Activate the Agar-Agar: Turn the heat back on to medium. Just before it reaches a boil, whisk in the agar-agar powder. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring constantly with a whisk to ensure it dissolves completely and doesn't stick to the bottom.
- Sweeten: Add the lucuma powder and whisk vigorously until the mixture is smooth and free of lumps.
- Set: Pour the mixture into individual glass jars or ramekins. Let them cool at room temperature for a few minutes, then transfer them to the refrigerator to set completely, for at least 2-3 hours.
- Garnish: Once chilled and firm, decorate with crushed hazelnuts, walnuts, and a few shavings of dark chocolate. You can also opt for fresh berries or a simple dusting of ground cinnamon.
Notes
Sweetness Levels: Lucuma is deceptively powerful. While 1 tablespoon per quart (liter) is usually perfect, I recommend tasting the warm mixture before setting it. If you prefer a sweeter profile, add a tiny bit more.
Diabetes-Friendly Substitute: If you cannot find lucuma, you can easily substitute it with 1 or 2 tablespoons of Erythritol, which is an excellent sugar-free option for those managing blood glucose.
The Power of Agar-Agar: Agar-agar is a powder derived from red algae. It is a mucilage (a type of soluble fiber) with incredible gelling power. It is the perfect 1:1 vegan substitute for animal-based gelatin, providing prebiotic benefits for your gut health.
Nutrition
Calories: 111kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.003g | Cholesterol: 0.3mg | Sodium: 219mg | Potassium: 115mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 6IU | Vitamin C: 0.04mg | Calcium: 215mg | Iron: 1mg