Pistachio Ice Cream With Thyme Cabernet Caramel Food

PISTACHIO ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Add ½ cup pistachios and ¾ cup sugar to a food processor and process until finely chopped and blended.
• Add evaporated milk, cream, and salt to a saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir in the pistachio mixture. Cook, stirring occasionally, until almost simmering and sugar has dissolved, 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Add egg yolks to a bowl and whisk well. Slowly whisk 1 cup of hot milk mixture into the yolks. Pour the egg mixture into the saucepan and cook, stirring continuously, until thickened, about 8-10 minutes. (Do not allow the custard to boil.)
• Pour the custard through a fine-mesh sieve set over a bowl; discard what's left in the strainer. Cover mixture and refrigerate for several hours or overnight, until completely chilled. (Depending on the your ice cream maker, you may need to freeze the bowl of the ice cream maker overnight as well).
• Stir in almond and vanilla extract and then pour the mixture into an ice cream maker and freeze/churn according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Stir in remaining 1/2 cup pistachios. Transfer the ice cream to a container, cover the surface with plastic wrap, and freeze until firm, at least 3 hours.

CREME CARAMEL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Place the sugar and water in a heavy-bottomed saucepot over low heat. Let the sugar dissolve. Carefully brush the walls of the pot with a little water to prevent the sugar from crystallizing on the sides. Increase the heat to medium-high and boil until the syrup turns golden brown. Remove from the heat promptly and carefully divide the hot caramel among the 6 ramekins. Let cool for at least 2 minutes.
• In a medium saucepan, bring the milk and cream to just below a boil over medium-high heat. Meanwhile, mix together the egg yolks, caster sugar, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Place the mixing bowl on top of a towel to keep it from wobbling while whisking in the hot liquid. Gently whisk 2 tablespoons of the hot milk mixture into the egg mixture. Slowly whisk in the remaining hot milk mixture 1/3 at a time, trying to prevent excess bubbles. Strain though a sieve.
• Place 6 ramekins evenly spaced in a paper towel-lined baking dish to prevent the ramekins from sliding. Pour 6 ounces into each caramel-coated ramekin. Place on the extended middle rack of the oven. Carefully pour boiling water into the baking dish until 2/3 of the way up the sides of the ramekins. (Be careful not to get any water on the custard mixture.) Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and very gently slide it towards the center of the rack. Bake for about 35 minutes, or until the custards are almost fully set. Remove from the oven. Use tongs to remove the ramekins from the hot water bath. Let stand at room temperature for 5 minutes, then refrigerate until well chilled.
• To serve, dip the ramekin in very hot water for 15 to 20 seconds. Run a sharp knife around the sides of the ramekin. Invert the custards onto serving plates. The caramel will pool around the inverted custards. Serve immediately.

PISTACHIO ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Finely grind 1 cup of the pistachios and 1/2 cup of the sugar in a food processor, being careful not to turn the mixture into butter. Bring the milk and cream to a boil in heavy large saucepan. Remove from heat.
• Combine the egg yolks and remaining 1/2-cup sugar in a mixing bowl and whisk to blend. Gradually whisk 1 cup of the hot milk mixture into the eggs. Gradually add the egg mixture in a slow, steady stream into the hot cream in the saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the custard thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon and reaches 170 degrees on an instant-read thermometer, about 6 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and strain into a large bowl. Add pistachio mixture and almond extract. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing down against the surface to keep a skin from forming, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
• Remove from the refrigerator and pour into the bowl of an ice cream machine. Freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions. After the ice cream is made, transfer to an airtight container and freeze until ready to serve.
• Garnish with whipped cream and toasted pistachios.

CARAMELIZED ONIONS WITH THYME

Steps:

• Heat the butter and olive oil in a heavy-bottomed pot or pan set over medium-high heat. Peel and slice the onions into rounds while the butter is melting and add them to the pot. Toss to coat the onions and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Turn the heat down to medium and do not cover the pot. You want these babies to get brown! Stir occasionally, for about 10 to 15 minutes, then turn the heat to medium-low. Keep stirring (switch to a spatula or wooden spoon to scrape up the browned bits) until the onions are browned and soft. Add the thyme leaves, toss and remove from the heat. These will keep for 5 days in a covered bowl in the refrigerator. Use the leftovers with eggs, on top of a salad, or straight from the bowl with a fork.

PISTACHIO ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Reserve a quarter of the pistachios and finely grind the remainder in a food processor. Tip into a pan with the milk and sugar, and bring gently to the boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Remove from the heat, leave to cool, then chill.
• Finely chop the reserved pistachios. Whip the cream to soft peaks. Fold in the custard, almond extract and then the nut milk until evenly mixed. Churn in an ice cream machine or put the bowl in the freezer until the mixture is set 5cm in from the edges. Remove and whisk to break down the large ice crystals. Freeze and whisk again, then transfer to a rigid container and scatter with the chopped pistachios. Freeze completely until firm.
• Half an hour before serving, transfer the ice cream to the fridge to soften.