A tasty seasonal flavor that is a yummy ending to your holiday meal! The pecans were given to me by a neighbor whose parents have pecan trees in their back yard in southern Missouri.
Butternut Squash Gelato w/ Candied Pecans
Ingredients:
1 quart half & half
6 egg yolks
1 cup sugar
1 cup candied pecans (see procedure below)
2 cups roasted butternut squash pulp (see procedure below)
Procedure:
For candied pecans:
1) Roast pecans in 300 degree F oven for 20 to 25 minutes, then let cool
2) Combine 1 cup sugar and 1/8 cup water in saucepan
3) Boil to 333-335 degrees F (sugar will be amber at this point), occasionally brushing sides of pan w/ water to prevent crystals from forming, remove from heat immediately then add pecans and stir until they are well coated
4) Pour onto baking sheet lined w/ parchment paper and quickly separate pecan halves w/ 2 forks (I began using my fingers because using the forks was too slow to separate the pecans before the sugar hardened)
5) When cool, roughly chop w/ a large knife or break pecans into large pieces w/ fingers; place in an airtight container
For roasted butternut squash:
1) Cut butternut squash in half lengthwise and scrape out seeds
2) Line a sheet pan w/ parchment paper and place squash, cut side down, on pan
3) Roast squash at 425 degrees F for 50 – 60 minutes until pulp is soft
4) Let cool, then scoop out pulp
For gelato:
1) In a metal bowl, whisk egg yolks and sugar until mixture becomes smooth and pale yellow
2) Place half & half in a heavy pot and heat until scalded
3) Very slowly whisk half & half into egg/sugar mixture so as not to curdle the mixture
4) Place bowl w/ mixture over a pot of simmering water, stirring continuously w/ a heat resistant spatula until mixture coats the back of a metal spoon (do not let mixture exceed 170 degrees F to prevent curdling), then quickly place bowl in an ice bath to stop the cooking process and promote rapid cooling
5) In a food processor, pulse 3 cups of the gelato mixture into the butternut squash puree to thin, then stir puree into the remaining gelato mixture, blending well, and chill in fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight
6) Churn mixture in ice cream maker according to manufacturer’s instructions adding the candied pecans when mixture starts to freeze
7) Pour gelato into a 2 quart plastic container, stir to evenly distribute the candied pecans, then place a piece of parchment paper cut to size on the surface of gelato (this will reduce air exposure and prevent ice crystals from forming on the surface of the gelato), seal container and freeze until firm
Yield: Approx. 1 1/2 quarts
May 2014 bring you good fortune… and good eats!!
