In the heart of the picturesque countryside of France lies an oasis of flavors, where fragrant herbs and vibrant blooms dance together in perfect harmony. Within this idyllic setting, we embark on a culinary journey to discover the secrets of crafting a delectable dessert that captures the essence of summer and evokes memories of leisurely afternoons spent basking in the sun-kissed fields. Prepare to be enchanted as we guide you through the process of creating a lemon verbena ice cream that embodies the spirit of the French countryside, transporting you to a realm of pure culinary bliss.
Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!
LEMON VERBENA ICE CREAM
Since I'm in the people-pleasing mode, although I squirreled away a bunch of lemon verbena from my friend's shrub, you can probably find some if you ask friends, or at your local farmer's market or well-stocked grocers. You could equal parts fresh mint instead.
Provided by David
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- In a medium saucepan, warm the lemon verbena leaves with the milk, 1/2 cup (125ml) of the cream, the sugar, and a pinch of salt.
- Once warm, remove from heat, cover, and let steep for one hour.
- To make the ice cream custard, pour the remaining cream into a large bowl set in a larger bowl of ice water, and put a mesh strainer on top.
- Use a strainer or slotted spoon to skim the lemon verbena from the cream & milk mixture and squeeze the leaves to extract as much liquid as possible back into the saucepan, then discard them. Rewarm the lemon verbena-infused cream & milk, then
- In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs together in a small bowl and slowly pour in the warm infusion, whisking constantly.
- Scrape the warmed egg yolks back into the saucepan and cook, stirring continuously with a heatproof spatula, until the custard leaves a trail on the spatula when you drag your finger across it. (If using a thermometer, it should read about 175ºF, or 79ºC.)
- Immediately strain the custard into the bowl of cream. Stir until cool.
- Chill thoroughly, then freeze in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions. When done, crumble a dried verbena leaf in the ice cream, or finely-chop a fresh leaf and stir that in.
LEMON CUSTARDS WITH LEMON VERBENA
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Combine first 3 ingredients in medium saucepan. Boil until mixture is reduced to 1/2 cup, about 4 minutes. Add sugar; simmer until mixture is reduced to 1/3 cup, about 3 minutes. Stir in cream. Whisk yolks to blend in medium bowl. Gradually whisk in hot cream mixture. Whisk in lemon juice.
- Strain custard through sieve into 4-cup measuring cup. Divide among six 2-cup ramekins or soufflé dishes. Cover ramekins with foil. Place ramekins in 13 x 9 x 2-inch metal baking pan. Add enough hot water to pan to come halfway up sides of ramekins.
- Bake custards until just set, about 45 minutes. Remove pan from oven; let custards cool in water in pan. Transfer ramekins to refrigerator. Chill at least 4 hours or overnight. Serve chilled.
LEMON VERBENA ICE CREAM FROM A FRENCH COUNTRY HERB GARDEN
I grow many old fashioned and unusual herbs in my garden in France, and although many people know Lemon Balm, Lemon Verbena is not so well known, which is such a shame! For me the flavour is MUCH more lemony and intense than Lemon Balm - think lemon sherbet, and you have a good idea of what to expect! The plant has graceful pointed leaves that are a gorgeous pale green in colour. Just scrunching a leaf in your hand to release the aromas can help fatigue or a headache. This is an ice cream I came up with to refresh and revive even the most jaded of palates - refreshing and with an amazing lemony zing! You should be able to source Lemon Verbena at any good Farmer's Markets - alternatively, make friends with someone who grows it! (Prep time includes the time to infuse the leaves to extract the flavour.)
Provided by French Tart
Categories Frozen Desserts
Time 2h30m
Yield 1 Litre, 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- In a medium saucepan, warm the lemon verbena leaves with all of the milk, 100ml of the cream and the sugar Press the leaves with the back of a wooden spoon to help the flavours release. Once warm, remove from heat, cover, and let steep for one to two hours.
- To make the ice cream custard, pour the remaining cream into a large bowl set in a larger bowl of ice water, and put a sieve on top.
- Use a strainer or slotted spoon to skim the lemon verbena from the milk and squeeze the leaves to extract as much liquid as possible back into the saucepan, then discard them. Reheat the lemon verbena infusion then whisk the eggs together and slowing pour in the warm infusion, whisking constantly.
- Scrape the warmed egg yolks back into the saucepan and cook, stirring continuously with a heatproof spatula, until the custard leaves a clear path on the spatula when you drag your finger across it.
- Immediately strain the custard into the bowl of cool cream and stir well until cool.
- Chill thoroughly, then freeze in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions. Serve with fresh leaves for garnish and a little lemon syrup drizzled over for a flavour explosion!
LEMON VERBENA ICE CREAM
Heady lemon verbena lends an herbal, floral note to our summer pudding. Be sure to save this recipe for when you've found fresh verbena - dried just won't be the same.
Categories Milk/Cream Ice Cream Machine Egg Dessert Freeze/Chill Kid-Friendly Frozen Dessert Lemon Summer Gourmet Kidney Friendly Vegetarian Pescatarian Wheat/Gluten-Free Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free Kosher Small Plates
Yield Makes about 1 1/2 quarts
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Bring verbena, milk, cream, and 1/8 teaspoon salt to a simmer in a small heavy saucepan over medium-low heat, then remove from heat and let steep, covered, 30 minutes.
- Whisk together eggs and sugar until combined, then whisk in verbena mixture. Return mixture to saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until custard thickens slightly and registers 175°F on an instant-read thermometer (do not let boil).
- Immediately strain thourough a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, pressing on and then discarding solids. Cool custard, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes, then chill, covered, until cold, at least 2 hours.
- Freeze custard in ice cream maker, then transfer to an airtight container and put in freezer to harden, about 1 hour.
Tips:
- Use fresh lemon verbena leaves for the best flavor. If you don't have access to fresh leaves, you can substitute dried leaves, but use half the amount.
- Steep the lemon verbena leaves in the milk for at least 30 minutes to infuse it with flavor.
- Use a high-quality ice cream maker for the best results. If you don't have an ice cream maker, you can freeze the mixture in a covered container and stir it every 30 minutes until it is frozen.
- Serve the ice cream immediately or store it in the freezer for up to 2 weeks.
Conclusion:
Lemon verbena ice cream is a refreshing and flavorful dessert that is perfect for summer. It is easy to make and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. If you are looking for a unique and delicious ice cream recipe, this is the one for you.
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