Plum And Red Wine Sorbet Recipes

PLUM SORBET OR GRANITA

Steps:

• Combine the red wine, clove, peppercorns, vanilla and sugar in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and strain into a bowl. Allow to cool. Blend the plums with the honey, corn syrup and wine syrup in a blender until smooth. Chill for 2 hours or overnight.
• If you are making granita, place a 9-by-11-inch baking dish in the freezer. You may omit the corn syrup and reduce the sugar if desired.
• Using an immersion blender, blend the plum mixture for 30 seconds. If making sorbet, freeze in an ice cream maker following the manufacturer's directions. If making granita, scrape into the chilled baking dish and place back in the freezer. Set the timer for 30 minutes. Using a fork, scrape the ice crystals from the outside of the baking dish toward the center. Return to the freezer and set the timer for another 30 minutes. Continue to scrape the mixture with a fork every 30 minutes until you have a uniform frozen mixture. It should not be frozen solid. If you forget to scrape and the mixture does freeze like an ice cube, cut into chunks and use a food processor fitted with the steel blade to break it up. Transfer to a container and freeze. Allow to soften for 15 minutes in the refrigerator before serving.

PLUM AND RED-WINE SORBET

Steps:

• Stir together all ingredients and a pinch of salt in a heavy medium saucepan and cook, covered, over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until plums fall apart, about 25 minutes. Discard cinnamon stick and zest. Purée in batches in a blender until very smooth (use caution when blending hot liquids). Force purée through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, discarding solids. Cool, uncovered, then chill, covered, until cold, at least 2 hours.
• Freeze purée in ice cream maker, then transfer sorbet to an airtight container and put in freezer to harden, at least 1 hour.

WARM PLUMS WITH CINNAMON TOAST AND RED PLUM SORBET

Steps:

• Make the sorbet: Combine chopped plums and 2 tablespoons of the water in a heavy saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat until soft, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a blender and puree until smooth, set aside.
• Place the remaining water and sugar in a clean saucepan and boil for 4 minutes. Combine plum puree, sugar syrup, vanilla extract and lemon juice in a glass or ceramic bowl. Refrigerate until chilled. Pour the mixture into an ice-cream maker and proceed according to manufacturer's directions.
• Prepare the plums: preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the halved plums, cut side up, in an earthenware dish or heavy skillet. Sprinkle with the sugar and water, and dust with 1/2 teaspoon of the cinnamon. Bake until tender, about 25 minutes. Remove from oven and keep warm.
• Meanwhile, make the cinnamon toast. Preheat the broiler. Place the toast on a baking sheet. Spread with butter and dust with the remaining cinnamon. Broil just until the butter starts to bubble, about 2 minutes. Remove and set aside.
• To assemble the dessert, arrange 3 plum halves like flower petals on each of four dessert plates. Place a small scoop of sorbet in the middle, drizzle with a spoonful of the plum juices and serve with cinnamon toast.