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Lemongrass Ice Cream

This is a Thomas Haas signature, and it’s more of a combination of ice cream and granité than just simple ice cream. I fell in love with it the first time I made it for its delicate balance of fat and acid. It pairs well with berries and would be great in a smoothie.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes about 5 cups

Ingredients

5 ounces (150g) fresh lemongrass, trimmed
1 cup (240g) fresh lime juice
1 1/4 cups (250g) sugar
2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon (51g) light corn syrup
2 cups (480g) whole milk
1 cup (240g) heavy cream

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Crush the lemongrass with the back of a heavy chef’s knife, then chop it. Put the lemongrass in a saucepan with the lime juice and sugar. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir in the corn syrup and remove from the heat. Let cool to about 115°F.

    Step 2

    Stir in the milk and cream. Transfer to a bowl or pitcher, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight for the flavors to mature.

    Step 3

    Strain the mixture, then freeze in an ice cream maker. Pack into a plastic container and freeze for at least 2 hours before serving.

Reprinted with permission from Dessert Fourplay: Sweet Quartets from a Four-Star Pastry Chef by Johnny Iuzzini and Roy Finamore. Copyright © 2008 by Johnny Iuzzini and Roy Finamore. Published by Crown Publishing. All Rights Reserved. Johnny Iuzzini,, executive pastry chef of the world-renowned Jean Georges restaurant in New York City, won the award for Outstanding Pastry Chef from the James Beard Foundation in 2006. This is his first book. Roy Finamore, a publishing veteran of more than thirty years, has worked with many bestselling cookbook authors. He is the author of three books: One Potato, Two Potato; Tasty, which won a James Beard Foundation award; and Fish Without a Doubt.__
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