Gelato Di Fragola Strawberry Ice Food

GELATO DI CREMA - VANILLA CREAM BASE FOR GELATO

Steps:

• In a large bowl whisk together the egg yolks and the sugar until pale yellow and thickens up.
• Combine the whole milk, heavy cream and 1 vanilla bean, sliced in half lengthwise in a saucepan. Heat the mixture just until it starts to bubble along the edges. Do not allow the mixture to boil. Remove from the heat.
• Remove the vanilla bean and scrape out the seeds with the tip if a small knife and add the seeds back into the milk mixture. Discard the vanilla bean shell.
• While whisking the egg mixture add in about a cup of the warm milk mixture and combine together. Then add in the rest of the egg mixture to the milk. Heat the mixture slowly to 175 to 180 degrees F. The custard should be thickened and coat the back of a wooden spoon. Do not allow the custard to simmer.
• Strain the custard through a fine mesh sieve, cover and refrigerate until well chilled.
• You can transfer this custard into the ice cream maker and follow manufacturer's instructions. This will make vanilla gelato, or you can make the following variations.
• Espresso: add 1/2 cup of chilled espresso coffee into the custard.
• Chocolate: add 3 ounces melted bittersweet chocolate into the warm custard before chilling.
• Pistachio or hazelnuts: In a blender add 6 ounces shelled pistachios with the heavy cream and puree before adding into the saucepan.
• Amaretto: Stir in 1/2 cup of crushed amaretto cookies into the milk before heating and add 1-ounce amaretto liqueur into the finished chilled custard before freezing.

NOCCIOLA GELATO: HAZELNUT GELATO

Steps:

• Grind the hazelnuts to a very fine paste (this can be done in a blender or coffee grinder).
• Warm milk until the edge is ringed with tiny bubbles. Turn off heat at once. Put in the hazelnut paste, mix thoroughly, and cover. Allow to cool completely.
• Line a strainer with a double layer of cheesecloth. Set over a bowl and pour the hazelnut milk mixture into the strainer and press as much through as possible. Tie up the ends of the cheesecloth, suspend over the bowl, and allow to drip through. When mixture stops dripping, squeeze gently. In another bowl beat the egg yolks and sugar until pale and foamy. Add the strained milk mixture mixing in a little at a time.
• Pour everything into top of double boiler over medium heat. Stir constantly and cook for 3 to 4 minutes after the water in the bottom has started to bubble. Pour into a bowl. Allow to cool completely then chill. Freeze according to ice cream machine directions.

STRAWBERRY GELATO

Steps:

• Combine the milk and the cream in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a boil for about 4 minutes, then remove from the heat.
• Puree the strawberries and stir into the milk mixture. Set the mixture aside to cool.
• Whisk the egg yolks and the sugar together until creamy.
• Stir the cooled strawberry mixture into the egg yolk mixture. Cook in the top of a double boiler for 2-3 minutes, then remove from heat and let cool slightly. Pour the custard into a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and freeze for 3 hours. Stir the gelato vigorously or process in a food processor, and return it to the freezer for another 3 hours. Alternately, an ice cream maker can be used for this step, follow the manufacturer's directions.
• Serve garnished with fruit.

GELATO DI FRAGOLA - STRAWBERRY ICE

Steps:

• Boil the sugar in the water for ten minutes in an uncovered kettle. Rub thorough a sieve the strawberries and the juice of the lemon and the orange: add the syrup after straining, mix everything and pour the mixture in the freezer.

GELATO ALLA FRAGOLA - STRAWBERRY GELATO

Steps:

• In a blender combine the strawberries, sugar and whole milk and puree until smooth.
• Add in the heavy cream and mix just enough to combine (you do not want to whip the cream). Add in the lemon juice. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Refrigerating overnight is best because it will allow the flavor to intensify.
• Transfer the mixture into an ice cream machine and freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions. Serve at once with fresh cut strawberries, if desired, or freeze for up to one month.
• You can substitute the following fruits using the above recipe: Bananas, peaches, Pears, raspberries, blackberries, apricots, Granny Smith apples and blueberries.