Fresh Fig And Port Sorbet Food

FIG SORBET

Steps:

• Combine the water or wine and sugar in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the sugar has dissolved. Add the rose geranium or rose water, remove from the heat and allow to cool. Strain if you steeped the rose geranium sprig.
• Combine all of the ingredients in a blender and purée until smooth. You may have to do this in two batches. Chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours or overnight.
• Chill a container in the freezer. Blend the mixture with an immersion blender for 30 seconds, then freeze in an ice cream maker following the manufacturer's instructions. Transfer to the chilled container and place in the freezer for 2 hours to pack. Allow to soften in the refrigerator for 15 to 30 minutes before serving.

RED WINE AND ROSEMARY FIGS WITH FROMAGE BLANC SORBET

Steps:

• Make the sorbet: Bring sugar, water, honey, and lemon zest to a boil in a medium saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat, and let stand 10 minutes. Whisk in lemon juice and fromage blanc. Let cool completely. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, about 4 hours (or overnight).
• Freeze mixture in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer's directions. Transfer to a large container, and freeze until firm, about 1 hour (or up to 1 week).
• Make the figs: Sprinkle sugar over bottom of a 12-inch saute pan. Cook over medium-high heat, swirling pan occasionally, until sugar is light gold, about 5 minutes.
• Add wine in a slow, steady stream, stirring until sugar dissolves. Add rosemary and lemon zest, and simmer until reduced by half, about 8 minutes. Add figs, and cook until liquid is syrupy and figs are soft, about 4 minutes. Let cool to room temperature. Discard rosemary and lemon zest.
• Divide sorbet among 6 dishes, and spoon figs and syrup over the top. Serve immediately.

FRESH FIG AND GINGER CHUTNEY FROM THE AUBERGE

Steps:

• Combine all the ingredients in a large saucepan. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat, and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes.
• Uncover the pan and continue simmering for about an hour and a half, stirring often, until the chutney is reduced, thick and richly flavoured. If the chutney becomes too dry, add a splash of water. Taste and correct the seasoning, adding brown sugar, vinegar, or chilli flakes as needed. (Sometimes, depending on the water in the figs, this chutney can take over 2 hours to reduce.).
• Spoon into sterilised jars and seal. The chutney will keep for up to 8 or 9 months, unopened, in a cool, dark place. Once opened, refrigerate and use within 4 weeks.

FRESH FIG AND PORT SORBET

Steps:

• Trim the hard parts and stems of the figs and quarter the remainder.
• Add the figs and water to a saucepan, cover and bring to a simmer.
• As the mixture heats up, add the lemon zest.
• Stir 2-3 times over the first 10 minutes.
• After about 10 minutes, the figs will soften and begin to break up.
• When the figs are soft, add the sugar and cook uncovered for 2-3 minutes more until the mixture becomes thick and syrupy.
• Remove from the heat.
• Using either a stick blender in the pot or transferring the mixture to a regular blender, VERY CAREFULLY (Remember, this mixture is hot), puree the mixture.
• Now add the port, 1 1/2 cups of water and the lemon zest to the mixture.
• Taste and if it's too tangy (i.e., you didn't have Meyer lemons and substituted regular lemons), you may need to adjust with a tiny amount of sugar.
• Once the mix is cool, pour into your ice cream maker and follow the manufacturer's directions to get a semi-firm consistency.
• Remove the ice cream and place in a container in the freezer compartment of your refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
• Remove, scoop, and enjoy!