Passion-Fruit Gelée with Basil Cream

Passion-Fruit Gelée with Basil Cream
Passion-Fruit Gelée with Basil Cream
Though this recipe owes a debt to that icon of childhood desserts, Jell-O with whipped cream, the interplay of floral passion fruit and herbal basil is nothing if not elegant.
  • Preparing Time: -
  • Total Time: -
  • Served Person: Makes 4 servings
American Milk/Cream Food Processor Dairy Herb Dessert Freeze/Chill Vegetarian Basil Summer Shower Passion Fruit Gourmet Wheat/Gluten-Free Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 3/4 teaspoons unflavored gelatin (from a 1/4-oz envelope)
  • 2 cups passion-fruit nectar (preferably looza brand)
  • 1/2 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves
  • 1 1/2 cups well-chilled heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin (from another 1/4-oz envelope)
  • garnish: 4 fresh basil leaves (optional)
  • 1 empty egg carton; 4 (6- to 8-oz) slender clear glasses (not stemmed)
  • Carbohydrate 55 g(18%)
  • Cholesterol 285 mg(95%)
  • Fat 38 g(58%)
  • Fiber 12 g(49%)
  • Protein 11 g(23%)
  • Saturated Fat 22 g(110%)
  • Sodium 133 mg(6%)
  • Calories 588

PreparationMake gelée: Sprinkle gelatin over water in a small saucepan and let stand 1 minute to soften. Cook over low heat, stirring, until gelatin is dissolved, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in 1 tablespoon passion-fruit nectar at a time until gelatin mixture is cool, then whisk in remaining nectar. Transfer to a metal bowl and set bowl into a larger bowl half-filled with ice and cold water. Let stand, stirring occasionally, until gelée is consistency of raw egg white, 15 to 25 minutes. Put egg carton in a shallow baking pan and arrange glasses in carton, then tilt glasses to a 45-degree angle. Divide gelée among glasses. Carefully transfer pan with glasses to refrigerator and chill until gelée is set, at least 1 hour. Make cream when gelée has set: Pulse basil, sugar, and a pinch of salt in a food processor until finely chopped, then transfer to a bowl and add cream, stirring just until sugar is dissolved. Sprinkle gelatin over water in a small saucepan and let stand 1 minute to soften. Cook over low heat, stirring, until gelatin is dissolved, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in 1 tablespoon basil cream at a time until gelatin mixture is cool, then whisk in remaining cream. Pour through a fine-mesh sieve into a metal bowl, pressing hard on solids and then discarding them. Set bowl in a larger bowl half-filled with ice and cold water and let stand, stirring occasionally, until cream is consistency of raw egg white, 15 to 25 minutes. Holding 1 glass of gelée at a 45-degree angle, slowly fill glass with basil cream, gradually righting glass as filled. Fill remaining glasses in same manner. Chill, covered, until set, at least 1 hour. Cooks' note:Gelées with cream can be chilled up to 2 days.

PreparationMake gelée: Sprinkle gelatin over water in a small saucepan and let stand 1 minute to soften. Cook over low heat, stirring, until gelatin is dissolved, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in 1 tablespoon passion-fruit nectar at a time until gelatin mixture is cool, then whisk in remaining nectar. Transfer to a metal bowl and set bowl into a larger bowl half-filled with ice and cold water. Let stand, stirring occasionally, until gelée is consistency of raw egg white, 15 to 25 minutes. Put egg carton in a shallow baking pan and arrange glasses in carton, then tilt glasses to a 45-degree angle. Divide gelée among glasses. Carefully transfer pan with glasses to refrigerator and chill until gelée is set, at least 1 hour. Make cream when gelée has set: Pulse basil, sugar, and a pinch of salt in a food processor until finely chopped, then transfer to a bowl and add cream, stirring just until sugar is dissolved. Sprinkle gelatin over water in a small saucepan and let stand 1 minute to soften. Cook over low heat, stirring, until gelatin is dissolved, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in 1 tablespoon basil cream at a time until gelatin mixture is cool, then whisk in remaining cream. Pour through a fine-mesh sieve into a metal bowl, pressing hard on solids and then discarding them. Set bowl in a larger bowl half-filled with ice and cold water and let stand, stirring occasionally, until cream is consistency of raw egg white, 15 to 25 minutes. Holding 1 glass of gelée at a 45-degree angle, slowly fill glass with basil cream, gradually righting glass as filled. Fill remaining glasses in same manner. Chill, covered, until set, at least 1 hour. Cooks' note:Gelées with cream can be chilled up to 2 days.