The blackberry ice cream was an utterly successful attempt this summer. Due to the fact that I had never cooked or prepared anything with blackberries in the frozen fruit typology, I had to experiment various time in order to reach to the final product introduced today on the web.
The deep color of this ice cream is breathtaking and it woos your eyes and appetite. With its unique and balanced flavor, smooth and silky, this ice cream can be easily prepared in the kitchen. So do not waste any more time and try out this a marvel while we still have plenty of wild blackberries in the market.
- Vanilla extract is an optional ingredient, I suggest its use for a twist; you do not want the vanilla to dominate.
- Keep the sugar measurement balanced with the blackberry sweetness, nevertheless, do not use more than 110 gram.
- After pureeing the blackberries in the blender, pass the mass in a sieve. Make sure to not use an extra fine sieve, since blackberry is pulpy and has many seeds. This is a timely process but totally worth it.
- Every homemade ice-cream varies from the ice-cream machine used, therefore you have to check for the freezing time. I leave my container in the freezer for 24 hours and I let the ice-cream in the machine for 40 minutes.
- I can tell you now by my own experience that there is a huge difference between the machine and no machine ice-cream, meaning that the machine gives the ice cream a smoother and silkier feature. But, even if you do not own an ice cream machine, this should not be an obstacle. However, I suggest you to buy a small one, if cooking is a thing in your family and you love eating ice cream just as much as I do. The machine will quickly pay its money off and most importantly you will be in charge of your own health.
- If you do not own an ice cream machine and want to reach a similar texture for your ice cream, keep the mixture in the freezer and every 30 minutes take it out and mix with a hand mixer and then put it back in the freezer. Repeat this for 4-5 hours. Otherwise just let the ice cream mixture in the freezer until it is frozen.
Method:
In a big bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, sugar and vanilla extract for 3-4 minutes, until thickened and doubled in size. By this time the mixture should have a pale yellow color.
Beginner’s version:
Add the whole milk and whisk until well combined.
Add the heavy cream and mix slowly with a spatula.
Be careful to not whip the heavy cream.
Pour the mixture is a pot and cook it in low heat for +/- 7 minutes stirring non-stop with a spatula, until the cream thickens and coats the back of the spoon.
*If you want to be utterly sure regarding the preparation of the cream, cook the mass in double boiler. This way you will completely avoid the chances of the yolk to be cooked.
Professional’s Version:
In a pot add milk and the cream and boil them lightly.
Add a scoop of milk and the whipped yolks in the mixture while mixing all together constantly with a whisk.
*It is important to continue mixing in order not to let the yolks cook and ruin the ice cream.
Put the mass in a pot with the other part of the milk and cook until reaching the desired result (read above).
Put the prepared mass in a bowl, passing it in a fine sieve to make sure not to end up with curdled egg (if the mixture has passed in boiling during the cooking)
Put cellophane paper on the surface in order not to let a membrane create during the cooling.
Leave the bowl cool down and then put it in the fridge for 5 hours or during the night.
After 5 hours or the next day, grind the blueberries.
Pass the blueberries pure in a sieve not very fine and stir with a spatula until the fine mass has pass on to the bowl and the fruit seeds are the only ones left in the sieve.
*This step ensures that the final product is creamy and smooth.
Add lemon to the sieved blueberries pure and mix together with the cream.
Turn on the ice cream machine and pour inside the mixture.
Let the ice cream be made according to your machine`s instructions.
Afterward transfer the ice cream to an airtight container and leave it in the freezer for at least 2-3 hours before serving.
Photography by Eranda Janku
