Fresh Grape And Champagne Sorbet Recipes

FRESH GRAPE AND CHAMPAGNE SORBET

Steps:

• Puree 4 cups grapes in blender. Combine Champagne, sugar, juice concentrate, 1/4 cup water, and cinnamon in bowl; add 11/2 cups grape puree (reserve any remaining puree for another use). Stir until sugar dissolves.
• Process mixture in ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions. Transfer to container. Cover and freeze until firm, at least 4 hours and up to 2 days.
• Serve sorbet in Champagne coupes: garnish with additional grapes, if desired.

WINE GRAPE SORBET

Steps:

• Put the stemmed grapes in a large saucepan with the water. Cover and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the grapes are juicy and softened.
• Remove the seeds and skins by passing the grapes through a food mill fitted with a fine disk or by pressing them through a mesh strainer set over a large bowl. Whisk the sugar and corn syrup or agave nectar into the still-warm grape juice until dissolved. (If the grape juice has cooled, rewarm it gently in a saucepan over low heat.) Cover and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled.
• Freeze in an ice cream machine according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Because grapes have a lot of water, sorbet made from them tends to freeze very firmly. The sorbet is best eaten shortly after it's made; otherwise, be sure to remove it from the freezer before serving to allow it to soften.
• A pour of Champagne or other sparkling wine over each serving of sorbet is a nice touch. If you used Concord grapes, a spoonful of whipped cream (page 239) provides creamy contrast.
• If you don't have an ice cream machine, you can make GRAPE GRANITA. Pour the mixture into a shallow plastic container and place it in the freezer. Check periodically, and as the mixture freezes over the course of a few hours, stir and rake the mixture with a fork several times to create grainy crystals.
• Instead of using fresh grapes, you can use 3 cups (750 ml) good-quality unsweetened grape juice. Warm 1 cup (250 ml) of it with the sugar and corn syrup or agave nectar until the sugar dissolves, then mix in the remaining grape juice.
• Grapes can be stemmed quickly in a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook: Put the grapes in the bowl and run the mixer on the lowest speed. The hook will pull the grapes off the stems and crush them so they cook quicker; the stems will rise to the top and can be easily removed and discarded.

FRESH GRAPE AND CHAMPAGNE SORBET

Steps:

• Puree 4 cups grapes in blender. Combine Champagne, sugar, juice concentrate, 1/4 cup water, and cinnamon in bowl; add 1 1/2 cups grape puree (reserve any remaining puree for another use). Stir until sugar dissolves.
• Process mixture in ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions. Transfer to container. Cover and freeze until firm, at least 4 hours and up to 2 days.
• Serve sorbet in Champagne coupes; garnish with additional grapes, if desired.