Banana Semifreddo Food

PEANUT BUTTER-BANANA SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Prepare the crust: Spray a 9-by-5-inch metal loaf pan with cooking spray and line with plastic wrap, leaving a 2-inch overhang on all sides; spray the plastic wrap. Finely grind the peanuts and graham crackers in a food processor. Add the melted butter and pulse until combined. Press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan and refrigerate.
• Make the ice cream: Bring 2 inches of water to a simmer in a saucepan over medium heat. Fill a bowl with ice water. Whisk the egg yolks, 1/2 cup sugar, the banana puree, hazelnut liqueur and salt in a large metal bowl. Place the bowl over the pot of simmering water (do not let the bowl touch the water) and whisk until thickened, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the bowl from the pot and put in the ice water to cool.
• Beat the heavy cream and the remaining 1/4 cup sugar with a mixer until the cream just holds stiff peaks (do not overbeat). Gently fold the cream into the banana custard.
• Heat the peanut butter in the microwave until soft, about 20 seconds; let cool slightly.
• Drop spoonfuls of the peanut butter into the banana cream and fold until swirled.
• Spread the mixture over the crust in the pan, cover with plastic wrap and freeze until firm, at least 9 hours. Lift out of the pan using the plastic wrap and cut into 1-inch slices.
• Photograpy by Kate Sears

CHOCOLATE SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Line the bottom and sides of a 9x5-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap, allowing 4 to 5 inches to extend over all sides.
• Stir cookie crumbs and almonds together in a bowl. Set aside.
• Place chopped bittersweet and semisweet chocolate in a large bowl and set a fine wire-mesh strainer over the bowl; set aside.
• Whisk eggs, sugar, and salt together in a medium bowl until well combined.
• Heat 1/2 cup cream and water in a small saucepan over medium heat until mixture begins to simmer, 3 to 4 minutes. Slowly whisk hot cream mixture into egg mixture until completely combined. Return mixture to the saucepan and attach a candy thermometer to the pan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with a rubber spatula and scraping the bottom of the pan, until mixture is slightly thickened and registers 160 to 165 degrees F (70 to 74 degrees C), 4 to 5 minutes. Do not let mixture simmer.
• Immediately pour into the strainer over the chocolate. Discard any solids left in the strainer. Let chocolate mixture stand for 5 minutes. Whisk until chocolate is melted and smooth; whisk in vanilla and almond extracts. Let stand until completely cool, about 15 minutes.
• Beat remaining 1 1/2 cups cream with an electric stand mixer, using the whisk attachment, on medium-high speed until soft peaks form, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes.
• Whisk 1/3 of whipped cream into chocolate mixture until completely combined. Gently fold remaining whipped cream into the chocolate mixture using a rubber spatula until incorporated and no streaks of whipped cream remain. Spoon mixture into the prepared pan and smooth evenly with a small offset spatula. Sprinkle evenly with cookie crumb mixture.
• Pull excess plastic wrap at sides tightly over cake, gently pressing down on cookie crumb mixture. Freeze, 12 to 24 hours.
• Lift semifreddo from pan, using plastic wrap as handles, and transfer to a serving plate. Let stand for 15 minutes. Cut semifreddo into 8 slices, using a serrated knife dipped in hot water and wiped dry after each slice.

BANANA SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Toast almonds on baking sheet in oven for 7 to 10 minutes or until fragrant and crisp. Cool. Coarsely chop.
• Combine bananas, brown sugar, rum and lime juice in food processor and whirl until pureed.
• Transfer puree to large bowl.
• Beat cream in small bowl until frothy. Gradually beat in granulated sugar and salt until soft peaks form. Gently fold cream into banana mixture.
• Reserve 2 tablespoons nuts for garnish and fold remaining nuts into banana mixture.
• Spoon into 8 individual ramekins or dessert cups then cover with plastic wrap and freeze 1 1/2 hours or up to 3 days. (The longer the mixture is frozen the longer it will need to warm up slightly before serving.).
• To serve: Remove from freezer and let stand for 30 minutes or until softened to smooth and creamy consistency. Sprinkle with reserved nuts.

BANANA & COCONUT SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth.
• Pour into a 1 litre capacity airtight container.
• Freeze for 4-5 hours or until just frozen.