Dark Chocolate Mint Gelato Food

DEEPLY CHOCOLATE GELATO

Steps:

• Heat the milk, cream, and 1/2 cup sugar in a 2-quart saucepan, until the sugar dissolves and the milk starts to simmer. Add the cocoa powder and chocolate and whisk until smooth. Pour into a heat-proof measuring cup.
• Place the egg yolks and the remaining 1/4 cup sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on high speed for 3 to 5 minutes, until light yellow and very thick. With the mixer on low speed, slowly pour the hot chocolate mixture into the egg mixture. Pour the egg and chocolate mixture back into the 2-quart saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until thickened. A candy thermometer will register about 180 degrees F. Don't allow the mixture to boil!
• Pour the mixture through a sieve into a bowl and stir in the coffee liqueur, vanilla, and salt. Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on top of the custard and chill completely.
• Pour the custard into the bowl of an ice cream maker and process according to the manufacturer's directions. Stir in the roughly chopped chocolate, if using, and freeze in covered containers. Allow the gelato to thaw slightly before serving.

CHOCOLATE MINT GELATO

Steps:

• Special equipment needed: ice cream maker.
• Stir together 1/4 cup milk and cornstarch.
• Whisk together sugar, cocoa, and remaining 1 1/2 cups milk in a small heavy saucepan and bring to a boil over moderate heat, stirring. Stir cornstarch mixture again and whisk into chocolate. Return to a boil, whisking, then remove from heat.
• Add mint, a pinch of salt, and half of chocolate to saucepan, stirring.
• Set saucepan in a large bowl of ice water to cool, whisking frequently.
• Freeze chocolate mixture in ice-cream maker. When nearly frozen, add remaining chocolate and churn until blended.

DARK CHOCOLATE MINT GELATO

Steps:

• Bring 2 cups of milk to a simmer.
• Add mint and simmer a few minutes.
• Then, turn off heat and let steep for 30 minutes.
• In another bowl, whisk remaining cup milk with sugar, cocoa powder and cornstarch.
• Strain mint out of the warm milk and bring back to a simmer.
• Add the cocoa mixture slowly, whisking to incorporate.
• Cook until edges bubble and then a minute longer until mixture is slightly thickened.
• Strain through a fine wire mesh strainer.
• Cover with plastic and let sit cool in the fridge overnight or put over a bowl of ice to cool.
• Once cooled, freeze according to your ice cream maker's instructions.