Here’s an unusual dessert that incorporates some of the best flavors of summer into a cool, palate cleansing treat! My friends’ friends brought them back a bottle of 15 year old balsamic vinegar from a trip to Rome last year. Ever since then they asked me to come up w/ a dinner menu to showcase this delicious vinegar. I came up w/ a menu but it’s been difficult to get everyone together due to our schedules. So last night we did the dinner, minus the friends who brought this gift from Rome… oh well, some other time for them. We’ll be sure to tell them what they missed! The main dish and vegetable that I planned to make wasn’t made, but we did put together a delicious spur of the moment pasta dish w/ shrimp, tomatoes, asparagus and a light sauce of olive oil, roasted garlic, herbs, red pepper flakes, white wine and butter. The dessert was the only showcase for the aged balsamic vinegar.
I know, you’re probably thinking “caprese gelato – yuk…that’s weird”, but it actually tasted good… very much like a sweet caprese salad. A small drizzle of the vinegar on the plate added an extra component of sourness and twang! My friends’ kids, ages 14 and 11, even liked the gelato (minus the balsamic vinegar drizzle), so despite being weird conceptually, in reality this recipe is worth making if you like the flavors of caprese. Try it and judge for yourself!!
Caprese Gelato
Ingredients:
2 cups tomato puree
1 cup sugar
1 quart half and half
6 egg yolks
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1 cup fresh mozzarella pearls
Procedure:
1) Blanch and peel 2 large tomatoes, puree in a food processor then press through a fine mesh strainer to remove the seeds
2) In medium saucepan heat half + half gently to a simmer, then turn off heat
3) In a large mixing bowl combine egg yolks and sugar and beat together until pale yellow
4) Beat 2 tablespoons of the warm half + half into the egg mixture (do this slowly to avoid curdling the eggs), then beat in the remaining half + half little by little
5) Place bowl over a pot of simmering water and cook over a gentle heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture coats the back of a spoon (do not let temperature exceed 170 degrees or mixture will start to curdle)
6) Cool in an ice bath
7) Stir tomato puree into custard and liquify in the food processor so the puree is well incorporated
8) Place custard mixture back into bowl and chill in fridge for at least 4 hours (or overnight like I did)
9) Churn in ice cream maker according to manufacturer’s instructions, adding the mozzarella pearls and basil 3/4 of the way into the churning
10) Pour gelato into a 2 quart plastic container and quickly stir to evenly distribute the mozzarella and basil
11) 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 the container and freeze until firm
Yield: Approx. 1 ½ quarts
Enjoy the flavors of summer!
