Crystallized Ginger Ice Cream Recipes

GINGER ICE CREAM

Steps:

• In a medium pot, combine cream, milk, sugar, ginger, cinnamon, clove and salt. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, then cover, remove from heat, and let steep for 1 hour.
• In a medium bowl, whisk the yolks. Whisking constantly, slowly whisk about a third of the cream into the yolks, then whisk yolk mixture back into the pot with the cream. Return pot to medium-low heat and gently cook until mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon (about 170 degrees on an instant-read thermometer).
• Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl. Cool mixture to room temperature. Cover and chill at least 4 hours or overnight. Churn in an ice cream machine according to the manufacturer's instructions, adding the candied ginger during the last few seconds of churning. Serve directly from the machine for soft serve, or store in freezer until needed. Serve topped with extra candied ginger if desired.

CANDIED GINGER-MASCARPONE ICE CREAM

Steps:

• In a saucepan over medium heat, heat the milk, heavy cream, and vanilla, stirring occasionally to make sure the mixture doesn?t burn or stick to the bottom of the pan. When the cream mixture reaches a fast simmer, turn off the heat and let sit 10 minutes to infuse the flavor. Meanwhile, whisk together the egg yolks and sugar. In a thin stream, whisk the cream mixture into the egg yolk mixture. Then pour the egg-cream mixture back into the saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. At 160 degrees, the mixture will give off a puff of steam. When the mixture reaches 180 degrees F it will be thickened and creamy, like eggnog. If you do not have a thermometer, test it by dipping a wooden spoon into the mixture. Run your finger down the back of the spoon. If the stripe remains clear, the mixture is ready; if the edges blur, the mixture is not quite thick enough yet. When it is ready, quickly remove it from the heat. Whisk in the mascarpone.
• Meanwhile, in a bowl, put in 2 handfuls of ice cubes and add cold water to cover. Rest a smaller bowl in the ice water. Pour the cream mixture through a fine sieve or chinois (to remove the vanilla bean pieces) and into the smaller bowl. Chill until cool, about 1 hour, then stir in the crystallized ginger and continue according to the directions of your ice cream maker to freeze.

VANILLA ICE CREAM WITH LITCHIS AND CRYSTALLIZED GINGER

Steps:

• Drain litchis from syrup into heavy small saucepan. Place litchis in medium bowl. Add orange slices to syrup and boil until syrup thickens, about 10 minutes. Remove orange slices from syrup. Pour syrup over litchis. Mix in Cointreau and ginger. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate.) Scoop ice cream into bowls. Spoon litchis and syrup over.

SINGLE MALT WHISKY, CRYSTALLIZED GINGER AND PECAN ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Have ready an ice cream maker with a frozen bowl, or whatever equipment will be needed for freezing the ice cream.
• In a small heavy skillet or saucepan over very low heat, melt butter and add pecans and salt. Saute pecans until they begin to darken, 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer them to a plate. Reserve butter.
• In a large mixing bowl, whisk eggs by hand for 1 minute. Gradually add sugar, and whisk until blended, 2 minutes. Add cream and milk, and blend. Add melted butter; whisk until smooth and thoroughly blended.
• Pour mixture into ice cream maker, and freeze according to manufacturer's instructions. When ice cream is stiff and about 2 minutes from finished, add pecans and chopped ginger while the drum is still turning. When really stiff and frozen, add whisky, and blend until whisky is incorporated. The ice cream will soften slightly with the addition of whisky. Transfer to an airtight container, and store in freezer until serving.

GINGER ICE CREAM

Steps:

• In a large bowl lightly whisk yolks. In a 3-quart heavy saucepan cook sugar, fresh gingerroot, and water over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes. Add half-and-half and bring to a simmer. Add hot half-and-half mixture to yolks in a slow stream, whisking, and pour into pan. Cook custard over moderately low heat, stirring constantly, until a thermometer registers 170°F. (Do not let boil.)
• Pour custard through a sieve into cleaned bowl and stir in cream and vanilla. Cool custard. Chill custard, its surface covered with plastic wrap, until cold, at least 3 hours, and up to 1 day.
• Finely chop crystallized ginger. Freeze custard in an ice-cream maker, adding crystallized ginger three fourths of way through freezing process. Transfer ice cream to an airtight container and put in freezer to harden. Ice cream may be made 1 week ahead.