Gelato Food

GELATO

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, mix milk and cream. Warm until foam forms around the edges. Remove from heat.
• In a large bowl, beat the egg yolks and sugar until frothy. Gradually pour the warm milk into the egg yolks, whisking constantly. Return mixture to saucepan; cook over medium heat, stirring with a wooden spoon until the mixture gels slightly and coats the back of the spoon. If small egg lumps begin to show, remove from heat immediately.
• Pour the mixture through a sieve or fine strainer into a bowl. Cover, and chill for several hours or overnight.
• Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker, and freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions. Transfer to a sealed container, and freeze until firm. If the gelato is too firm, place it in the refrigerator until it reaches the desired consistency.

CLASSIC GELATO BASE (VANILLA FLAVOR)

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, warm the milk over medium heat until it just starts to bubble around the edge (no need to bring it to a boil). Remove from the heat and reserve.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer, or in a large mixing bowl if you're using a hand mixer, beat the egg yolks and sugar together until the mixture is thick and creamy (about 2 minutes at medium speed). With the mixer on low speed, slowly pour in one ladleful of the hot milk into the egg mixture. Slowly pour in the rest of the mixture and beat until the milk is well incorporated.
• Pour the milk and egg mixture back into the saucepan, add the vanilla bean, and place over medium-low heat and cook, stirring constantly, until the custard coats the back of a wooden spoon.
• Remove from the heat. Let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for a few hours, or preferably overnight to infuse the custard with a deeper vanilla flavor.
• Fish the vanilla bean out of the custard, then pour the custard through a fine mesh strainer into the bowl of an ice cream maker (straining the mixture will ensure a silky smooth gelato). Freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions. Stop the machine when the gelato is icy but still soft.
• STORAGE: Transfer the gelato to an airtight container and freeze until firm, about two hours.Classic gelato is at its creamiest and best if enjoyed within 2 weeks. Past that, some ice crystals will inevitably start forming (especially if the gelato is kept in the freezer section of a regular fridge, as opposed to a chest freezer) and the texture won't be quite as smooth. The gelato will still be perfectly edible for up to 2 months, but my advice is: enjoy it as quickly as possible after churning.Always take gelato out to room temperature 15 to 20 minutes before serving to soften it and make it easier to scoop.
• SERVING: Always take Gianduja gelato out to room temperature 20 minutes before serving to make it easier to scoop. This will also allow you to enjoy the treat at its ideal temperature and texture.
• VARIATIONS: Use this versatile base to make a variety of gelato flavors, such as Pistachio, Raspberry Rose, Blueberry, or Cherry Ripple!
• MAKE IT DAIRY FREE: Substitute lactose-free milk or oat milk for the regular milk, and lactose-free heavy cream or soy cream for the regular heavy cream.
• MAKE IT VEGAN: Get my recipe and instructions for making vegan gelato.

GELATO

Steps:

• Put the milk, half-and-half, salt and whatever flavors you are steeping with in a medium saucepan. Heat to a gentle simmer, remove from the heat and let steep for 30 minutes.
• Whisk the sugar, vanilla and egg yolks in a medium bowl. Gradually strain in and whisk about half of the warm milk mixture into the eggs. Then, while whisking constantly, add the warmed eggs to the remaining milk mixture.
• Return to the heat and cook the gelato base, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until thick and it coats a spoon, about 10 minutes. Transfer the mixture into a bowl set over an ice bath to stop the cooking and bring down the temperature.
• Strain the mixture again through a fine strainer, pushing to extract all the liquid. Churn the gelato in a gelato/ice cream maker, following manufacturer's instructions.
• Fold in desired mix-ins once the gelato has finished spinning in the machine. Transfer to a container and freeze until solid and ready to serve.

BLUEBERRY GELATO

Steps:

• Add berries and the lemon juice to a blender or food processor fitted with the chopping blade; blend or process until fairly smooth.
• Transfer to a fine-mesh sieve set over a big bowl; gently press the puree against the mash with the back of a wooden spoon to extract as much of the juice and pulp as possible, leaving the skins behind.
• Discard the mass in the sieve and set the puree aside.
• Heat the milk and cream in a saucepan over medium heat until tiny bubbles fizz around the pan's inner rim; adjust heat to maintain this temperature without letting the mixture boil.
• Beat the egg yolks and sugar in a medium bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until pale yellow, thick and grainy, about 2 minutes.
• Whisk about one quarter of the hot milk mixture into the egg yolk mixture until smooth, then whisk this combined mixture into the remaining hot milk mixture in the pan.
• Immediately decrease heat to low; cook slowly, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens to the consistency of melted ice cream and can coat the back of a wooden spoon, about 4 minutes.
• Strain through a clean fine-mesh sieve into a medium bowl to remove any bits of scrambled egg; stir in the blueberry puree, vanilla, and salt.
• Refrigerate until cold, about 4hours or overnight.
• Freeze the custard in your ice cream machine according to manufacturer's directions.
• Serve at once or scoop into a freezer container; store in the freezer for up to 1 month; soften at room temperature for up to 10 minutes before serving.

BANANA GELATO

Steps:

• Bring milk and bananas to a simmer in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 10 minutes.
• Cool 5 minutes, then purée in a blender or food processor until smooth. Return mixture to saucepan; set over very low heat to keep warm.
• Beat yolks and sugar in a large bowl with a mixer at high speed until thick.
• Beat half the milk mixture into yolk mixture in a thin stream, then combine with remaining milk mixture in saucepan. Set over low heat and cook until mixture coats back of a spoon, about 2 minutes. Stir in vanilla, salt and cream.
• Pour into large container, cover, and refrigerate at least 2 hours or up to 2 days. Pour mixture into the canister of an ice-cream freezer; freeze according to manufacturer's instructions.