Sweet Tomato-Basil Ricotta Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 2 cups plum tomatoes
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup sugar
- pinch salt
- 5 egg yolks
- 1 cup whole milk ricotta
- 6 leaves fresh basil leaves
Directions
If you have an ice cream maker - super! Use it! If not, no worries - this recipe doubles as a how-to on making ice cream without a machine.
- Step One | Make Tomato Puree Use your Tomato Press to press tomatoes into a puree, while removing the skin. Pour the tomato puree into a pot and boil over medium high heat until reduced by half, about 15 minutes. Set aside to cool.
- Step Two | Make Custard Fill a large bowl with ice water. Place a smaller metal bowl into the ice bath, then set your Cone Strainer over top of the metal bowl. Pour heavy cream, sugar & salt into a saucepan over medium heat and stir. Whisk together the egg yolks. Once the cream is hot (begins to steam), begin gradually pouring it into the egg yolks, whisking as you pour. Return this custard mixture into the saucepan over low heat and stir until the custard thickens (to an almost pudding-like consistency). Pour the custard into the Cone Strainer to strain it into the metal bowl. Stir until chilled.
- Step Three | Mix Ice Cream Ingredients Blend the tomato puree, custard and ricotta with your an immersion blender or blender until smooth and well-mixed. Mince the fresh basil leaves with a grater into the ice cream mixture. Stir well.
- Step Four | Freeze Pour the mixture into your freezer-safe container. Freeze for 45 minutes. Remove from the freezer to mix with a whisk. Be sure to get the edges well, as they'll be more frozen than the rest. Return to the freezer. Remove and whisk every 30 minutes to ensure the ice cream freezes evenly. After 2 -3 hours, the ice cream should be evenly frozen.
Storage Handmade ice cream is best enjoyed immediately after it's made. You can store it in an airtight container in the freezer for up to two weeks. Serious Eats has a series of really great tips for storing homemade ice cream. As if you'll need them - this ice cream will likely be devoured about 10 minutes after you make it.
