Makes about 1 quart |In the United States, peanut butter and jelly are considered a perfect match. In Italy, it’s the same thing with strawberries and balsamic vinegar, a classic combination that makes a simple, refreshing dessert. If you’ve never had this stellar pairing, give our frozen version a shot. The vinegar is subtle and adds depth to the bright sweetness of the strawberries. We add it in two stages (with the cooking berries and just before churning) for an even more complex flavor.
TECHNIQUE: Ice cream
SPECIAL EQUIPMENT: Ice cream machine
CHILLING TIME: 2 hours or overnight
SHELF LIFE: 1 week
INGREDIENTS:
FOR THE STRAWBERRY PURÉE
- 1½ pints strawberries (3 cups), preferably organic, hulled and halved or quartered
- 2½ tablespoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
FOR THE BASE
- 5 large egg yolks
- ½ cup sugar
- 1¾ cups heavy cream
- ¾ cup 1% or 2% milk
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
INSTRUCTIONS:
COOK THE BERRIES
- Combine the berries with the 2½ tablespoons sugar and 2 teaspoons vinegar in a large nonreactive skillet. Put the skillet over medium heat and cook, stirring frequently, until the strawberries are soft and the liquid they release has reduced somewhat, 6 to 8 minutes.
- Let cool slightly, then transfer the berries and their juice to a blender or food processor. Purée until smooth and refrigerate until ready to use.
MAKE THE BASE
- In a medium heatproof bowl, whisk the yolks just to break them up, then whisk in half of sugar (¼ cup). Set aside.
- In a heavy nonreactive saucepan, stir together the cream, milk, salt, and the remaining sugar (¼ cup) and put the pan over medium-high heat. When the mixture approaches a bare simmer, reduce the heat to medium.
- Carefully scoop out about ½ cup of the hot cream mixture and, whisking the eggs constantly, add the cream to the bowl with the egg yolks. Repeat, adding another ½ cup of the hot cream to the bowl with the yolks. Using a heatproof rubber spatula, stir the cream in the saucepan as you slowly pour the egg-and-cream mixture from the bowl into the pan.
- Cook the mixture carefully over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it is thickened, coats the back of a spatula, and holds a clear path when you run your finger across the spatula, 1 to 2 minutes longer.
- Strain the base through a fine-mesh strainer into a clean container. Set the container into an ice-water bath, wash your spatula, and use it to stir the base occasionally until it is cool. Remove from the ice-water bath, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate the base for at least 2 hours or overnight.
FREEZE THE ICE CREAM
- Whisk the strawberry purée and the remaining 2 teaspoons vinegar into the chilled base.
- Freeze in your ice cream machine according to the manufacturer’s instructions. While the ice cream is churning, put the container you’ll use to store the ice cream into the freezer. Enjoy right away or, for a firmer ice cream, transfer to the chilled container and freeze for at least 4 hours.
SERVE IT WITH:
- Crème Fraîche Ice cream, Honey Lavender Ice Cream, or Chocolate Ice Cream
- Shortbread or Brown Sugar Graham Crackers
- Sliced Strawberry Topping
- Vanilla and Chocolate ice creams and a banana, sliced lengthwise, for a classic banana split
