Sorbet
I just love making sorbets as they are just so easy to make and prepare. Sorbets consist of only a few ingredients and is well worth it. The basic sorbet is made up by Fruit puree, and a basic Simple Syrup. * Basic Simple Syrup = 1Cup Sugar & 1Cup water. Brought to a boil till all the sugar has dissolved, the cooled * Sorbets can be made with almost any fruits! Literally any fruit you can think of.
Now there are two ways of skinning this cat - you can cheat (an option I opt for many times) by using Canned fruits or fresh fruit. When I use canned fruits I tend to use a not too sweet syrup e.g. 1Cup Sugar & 2Cups Water, seeing that the fruit is already sweetened when canned.
RECIPES for Syrup's
BASIC SIMPLE SYRUP: 1Cup Water, 1Cup Sugar - brought to a slight simmer till all the sugar has dissolved. Cool completely before using
NOT SO SWEET SYRUP: 1Cup Sugar, 2Cups Water - brought to a slight simmer till all the sugar has dissolved. Cool completely before using
Optional - these syrups can be infused with almost anything! From Rooibos tea, Vanilla, Ginger and even alcohol. Keep in mind that when infusing syrups, best advice would be to bring the syrup and the flavouring e.g. vanilla bean to a slight simmer, remove from the heat, cover and leave to cool completely. Then reheat the mixture and cool completely before using in the recipe straining off the flavouring agent.
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| Simple Syrup Infused with a Vanilla Husk & Fresh Ginger |
Here is the Sugar syrup recipe that's on my site: http://www.sweetmafia-sa.com/index.php/my-diy-tips/2012-07-16-20-46-36/make-sugar-syrup
Litchi Sorbet
you'll need:
2 x Cans of Pitted Sweetened Litchi's (Retain the juice from one can)
250ml Not so sweet syrup
A Handful of Fresh Litchi's to serve
- If you want to use fresh litchis you will need about 500g of peeled & pitted litchi's
method:
Strain off the litchi's from the cans, reserve the syrup from one of the cans. Place the drained litchi's and juice into a blender. Puree till fine and slushy. Pour in 250ml of your cooled syrup before blitzing for another minute. Pour the mixture into your Ice cream machine and churn according to manufactures instructions. Scoop the almost set sorbet into a freezer proof container and freeze till needed.
THE SAME GOLDEN RULE APPLIES TO SORBET AS TO ICE CREAM - Remove from the freezer at least 5 - 10 minutes before serving. This softens the sorbet for perfect scooping also allowing the flavours to marry.
Watermelon Sorbet
you'll need:
500g Watermelon - cubed
300ml Simple Syrup
method:
Place the watermelon and syrup in a blender and puree for 5 minutes. Pour the mixture through a fine sieve or chinois. Press the pulp through with the back of a spoon, leaving all the piths & seed bits behind. Pour into an ice cream machine and churn according to manufacturers instructions.
To make Sorbet by hand is quite easy. Ice cream machines can be very price, do have a look around at different stores as you do find good bargains sometimes. Instead of using your everyday plastic container to freeze your handmade sorbets try to find a metal bowl with a lid or just seal it properly with cling film. Pour the sorbet into the bowl and freeze for an hour till the sorbet starts to set. Take the bowl out and whisk with and electric whisk for a minute then return to the freezer. Repeat this every 30 minutes for 2 hours then you can leave it to set completely - or until needed.
Kiwi Sorbet
you'll need:
10 x Ripe Kiwi Fruits - peeled : http://www.sweetmafia-sa.com/index.php/my-diy-tips/2012-07-16-20-46-36/peel-a-kiwi Roughly 500g of Kiwi
350ml Simple Syrup infused with Ginger (1cm Thick Ginger piece, peeled and cut into match sticks)
method:
Place the peeled kiwi's & the infused simple syrup in a blender and puree till smooth-ish, I like it when the sorbet has some texture to it. Pour into an ice cream machine and churn according to manufacturers instructions. Scoop into a freezer proof container and freeze till set.
Here are some more SORBET recipes available on my site www.sweetmafia-sa.com
- Chocolate Sorbet - http://www.sweetmafia-sa.com/index.php/all-desserts/2012-07-15-19-09-52/chocolate-sorbet
- Cheats Sorbet - http://www.sweetmafia-sa.com/index.php/all-desserts/2012-07-15-19-09-52/cheats-sorbet
- Tequila & Lime Sorbet - http://www.sweetmafia-sa.com/index.php/all-desserts/2012-07-15-19-09-52/tequila-lime-sorbet
Visit the what's in SEASON on my site to plan your menu's and other delicious Recipes : http://www.sweetmafia-sa.com/index.php/seasonal-advice
