Strawberry Black Pepper Sorbet Food

STRAWBERRY SORBET

Steps:

• In a saucepan set over moderate heat, combine the sugar and water, bring mixture to a boil, and simmer, stirring, for 3 minutes, or until clear. Transfer to a bowl and let cool. In a food processor or blender puree the strawberries with lemon juice, to taste. Add strawberry puree to sugar syrup and stir to combine. Transfer mixture to an ice cream freezer and freeze according to manufacturer's instructions. Or freeze in cube trays.

STRAWBERRY SORBET

Steps:

• Hull and chop fruit, then tip them into a bowl with the sugar and lemon juice. Bring a kettle of hot water to the boil and pour over 300ml boiling water. Leave everything to macerate until cool, then blitz in a food processor until smooth. Push the purée through a sieve.
• Clear a shelf in the freezer and place a sided metal tray in to chill. Pour the mix into the tray and cover with cling film. Freeze the liquid until frozen around the edges and slushy in the middle. Use a fork to break up the ice into smaller crystals. Return the tray to the freezer. Repeat the breaking up process every half hour (at least three times) until it's completely frozen and the texture of snow. For a quicker method: freeze the mixture in an ice tray, then blitz the cubes in a food processor just before serving. The texture will be slightly slushier, but just as delicious.

SPICED STRAWBERRY SORBET

Steps:

• In a saucepan combine sugar and water and bring to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Stir in peppercorns and remove pan from heat. Cover pan and let syrup stand 1 hour.
• Strain syrup through a fine sieve into a food processor or blender and discard peppercorns. Purée hulled strawberries with syrup until very smooth and force though sieve into a bowl, discarding seeds and other solids. Stir in vinegar and chill, covered, until cold. Freeze mixture in an ice-cream maker.
• Serve sorbet with crisps and strawberries.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In a food processor grind almonds with granulated sugar. (Almond sugar may be made 2 days ahead and kept in an airtight container at room temperature.)
• On a work surface arrange 1 phyllo sheet and brush with some butter. Sprinkle sheet evenly with about 2 tablespoons almond sugar. Top sheet with remaining 5 phyllo sheets, brushing and sprinkling each in same manner. Trim edges of phyllo if uneven and cut into 24 rectangles, each about 4 by 2 inches. (Cut stacked phyllo lengthwise into 3 strips and cut each strip crosswise into eighths.) Cut each rectangle diagonally to form 2 triangles for a total of 48 cookies.
• Arrange triangles, sugared sides up, in one layer on 2 heavy baking sheets and bake in batches in middle of oven until golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer crisps to racks and cool.
• Sprinkle crisps with confectioners' sugar. (Crisps keep in an airtight container at room temperature 4 days.) Makes 48 crisps.

STRAWBERRY-ORANGE SORBET

Steps:

• Stir 1 cup water and sugar in small saucepan over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Bring to boil. Chill sugar syrup until cold, about 1 hour.
• Combine sliced strawberries, fresh orange juice and orange peel in processor. Puree until smooth. With processor running, gradually add chilled sugar syrup and process until well blended. Transfer sorbet mixture to 13x9x2-inch glass dish. Freeze just until sorbet is firm, stirring every 30 minutes, about 3 hours total. Transfer frozen sorbet to processor. Puree until smooth. Spoon into dessert glasses and serve immediately or freeze in covered container up to 3 days.

ROASTED STRAWBERRIES WITH BLACK PEPPER

Steps:

• Rinse the strawberries in cool water, place in a strainer or colander, and shake off most of the water. Slice the strawberries about 1/8 inch thick, place them in a large bowl, and sprinkle them with the sugar. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 375°F. Toss the strawberries with the black pepper, add the balsamic vinegar, and put the strawberries and all of their juices into a large saute pan or a large ovenproof dish. Roast for 8 to 10 minutes, until the juices are bubbling and the strawberries are hot but not mushy. Divide among individual dishes and serve immediately.

STRAWBERRY BLACK PEPPER SORBET

Steps:

• To crush the peppercorns, use a mortar and pestle, the side of a chef's knife, or the bottom of a heavy pan or skillet.
• Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan; bring to a boil, stirring occasionally until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat. Stir in peppercorns; let stand 20 minutes.
• Drain sugar syrup through a fine sieve into a bowl; discard solids or NOT. Place half of sugar syrup, half of sliced strawberries, and fresh lemon juice in a blender, and process until smooth. Pour pureed mixture into a bowl. Repeat the procedure with remaining sugar syrup and sliced strawberries.
• Pour mixture into the freezer can of an ice-cream freezer; freeze according to manufacturer's instructions. Spoon sorbet into a freezer-safe container; cover and freeze 4 hours or until firm.