Fromage Blanc Lemon Grass Sorbet Recipes

HOMEMADE FROMAGE BLANC

Steps:

• In a large, heavy saucepan, add the milk and the cream for a richer fromage blanc. In a mixing bowl, combine the buttermilk and lemon juice and stir to combine well. Add the buttermilk-lemon juice mixture to the milk and begin to heat the milk, over low heat and very slowly, to 175 degrees F. While the milk is heating, stir only twice, making 2 strokes each time, with a heat-proof spatula or other flat utensil. Check the temperature often. As soon as the temperature reaches 175 degrees F, remove the pot from the heat and allow to sit, undisturbed, for 10 minutes.
• Line a large colander with 2 layers of fine cheesecloth and set over a large bowl. Gently ladle the curds and whey into the colander and allow to drain until the drips of whey slows, about 2 minutes. Tie the corners of the cheesecloth together to form a hanging pouch, and hang pouch over a bowl and allow to drain until the cheese reaches the desired consistency.
• Serve as is, with preserves, honey or fresh fruit, or add salt or fresh herbs, to taste, and enjoy as a savory appetizer. If a rich cheese is desired, spoon or pour a bit of heavy cream over the top before serving. Also, if a very smooth product is desired, beat the cheese briefly with an electric mixer before serving.
• Refrigerate until ready to serve, up to 1 week. If cheese is marinated in oil with fresh herbs, it will keep, refrigerated, for up to 1 month.

FROMAGE BLANC-LEMON GRASS SORBET

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup, lemon grass and 2 cups water. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat and let cool. Cover and chill in refrigerator overnight.
• Strain liquid through a fine sieve. Stir fromage blanc into liquid. Taste and adjust sweetness if necessary. Pour into an ice cream maker and follow manufacturer's instructions.

HERBED FROMAGE BLANC

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine the fromage blanc, sour cream, scallions, dill, chives, parsley, garlic, lemon zest, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour (or overnight) for the flavors to blend. Serve in a small bowl surrounded by crackers and/or fresh vegetables like crudites.

MINTED LEMONGRASS SORBET

Steps:

• Thinly slice as much of lemongrass stalks as possible, discarding dried thin upper portion. In a saucepan simmer water with lemongrass, covered, 5 minutes. Add mint and simmer, uncovered, 1 minute. Remove pan from heat and add sugar, stirring until dissolved.
• In a blender purée mixture and strain through a fine sieve into a bowl, pressing hard on solids. Chill syrup, covered, until cold and freeze in an ice-cream maker. Sorbet may be made 1 week ahead.

RED WINE AND ROSEMARY FIGS WITH FROMAGE BLANC SORBET

Steps:

• Make the sorbet: Bring sugar, water, honey, and lemon zest to a boil in a medium saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat, and let stand 10 minutes. Whisk in lemon juice and fromage blanc. Let cool completely. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, about 4 hours (or overnight).
• Freeze mixture in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer's directions. Transfer to a large container, and freeze until firm, about 1 hour (or up to 1 week).
• Make the figs: Sprinkle sugar over bottom of a 12-inch saute pan. Cook over medium-high heat, swirling pan occasionally, until sugar is light gold, about 5 minutes.
• Add wine in a slow, steady stream, stirring until sugar dissolves. Add rosemary and lemon zest, and simmer until reduced by half, about 8 minutes. Add figs, and cook until liquid is syrupy and figs are soft, about 4 minutes. Let cool to room temperature. Discard rosemary and lemon zest.
• Divide sorbet among 6 dishes, and spoon figs and syrup over the top. Serve immediately.

LIME, GINGER, AND LEMONGRASS SORBET

Steps:

• 1. In a blender, combine the lemongrass with 3 cups water and puree until mostly smooth. (Lemongrass is very fibrous, so you will not get to a completely uniform consistency; that's okay.) Transfer the puree to a saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Remove from the heat, cover, and let the liquid infuse for 15 to 20 minutes. Strain the syrup into a bowl, pressing on the solids; discard the solids in the strainer. You should wind up with about 2 cups of strained "lemongrass tea"; be sure to measure out your final yield.
• 2. In a medium saucepan, combine the "lemongrass tea" with the same amount (by volume) of sugar. So, if you wind up with 2 cups tea, you will add 2 cups (400 grams) sugar. Stir the mixture over medium-high heat until all the sugar has dissolved and the syrup comes to a simmer. Remove from the heat and let cool completely.
• 3. Transfer the cooled syrup to a quart-size container and stir in the ginger juice and lime juice. Cover and refrigerate the sorbet base until completely cold, at least 3 hours.
• 4. Pour the chilled sorbet base into an ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions. Place the container in which you refrigerated the sorbet base in the freezer so you can use it to store the finished sorbet. Churn the sorbet until it resembles Italian ice. Transfer the sorbet to the chilled storage container and freeze until hardened to your desired consistency. The sorbet will keep, frozen, for up to 7 days.

FROMAGE BLANC SORBET

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, combine 5 tablespoons water, the sugar and vanilla (if using extract, add after cooking) and cook over medium-high heat until syrupy. Let cool completely.
• Put the fromage blanc in a bowl and add the chilled syrup. Mix well. Churn in an ice-cream maker following the manufacturer's instructions.