Lemon Verbena Ice Cubes Recipes

VERBENA SPRITZ

Steps:

• Start by making the lemon verbena cordial. Pour 350ml water into a saucepan and bring to a rolling boil. Add the lemon verbena and let steep for a few moments until the leaves have wilted a little, then add the caster sugar. Mix well until the sugar has dissolved. Turn the heat off and allow to cool. Once cool, transfer to a sealable container and place in the fridge for a minimum of 12hrs - or overnight. Then simply strain off and discard the leaves and bottle the cordial in a steralised bottle - it will keep for a week in the fridge.
• To make the cocktail fill a wine glass two-thirds full with ice. Pour in the sherry, 25ml of the lemon verbena cordial and bitters and a splash of prosecco.
• Stir to mix, adding a few more ice cubes and another dash of the prosecco. Finally, top with the remaining prosecco and give it a last mix before garnishing with a strip of lemon zest on a cocktail stick and a sprig of fresh mint.

LEMON VERBENA ICE CREAM

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.

LEMON VERBENA ICE CREAM

Steps:

• In heavy stainless-steel pot, combine lemon verbena leaves, half-and-half and 1/4 cup sugar. Bring to a boil, stirring, and remove immediately from heat. Cover, and let steep for 30 minutes.
• In stainless-steel bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and remaining sugar. While continuously whisking, strain the half-and-half mixture through a fine-meshed sieve into the egg yolks.
• Return the mixture to the saucepan. Over medium-low heat, stir continuously with wooden spoon until custard thickens, about 2 minutes.
• Strain custard into a bowl that is sitting in a larger bowl filled with ice cubes and water. Add heavy cream. Cool and chill. Freeze in an ice-cream maker.