Receta salted almond praline gelato
my homemade gelato
GELATO ALLA PANNA CON PRALINA AL CARAMELLO SALATO.
I must confess I generally am not a fashionable cook. On the contrary, I am a firm believer in tradition and repetition. The simpler a recipe, the better. And, if it’s been invented already and everybody knows it, then I am probably not going to be able to improve it.
I have been ignoring fusion food of any provenance for years. Soy sauce on foie gras? No thanks. Lobster ice cream? Rose flavored salt? mpf……..
Then I met salt and sugar. Years ago, before everybody – including Obama – started to be crazy about salted caramel.
We were on a Thai island, guests of an adorable local family, preparing a dessert of sticky rice boiled in coconut milk and palm sugar. The whole experience was fantastic. However, what it’s been impressed in my memory was how a sprinkle of salt changed and improved the taste of the coconut and sugar combination.
No news, you will say. We have been adding salt to cakes forever.
Indeed, it’s a tradition. I had forgotten and I had to get all the way to the other side of the world to remember.
Good excuse, I think I need more inspiration.
Recipe
- 100 gr/ 3 oz plain peeled almonds, finely chopped
- 60 gr (1/4 cup) plus 2 tablespoon regular sugar
- 60 gr (1/3 cup) organic brown sugar
- 250 ml (1 cup) whipping cream
- 200 ml (4/5 cup) full fat milk
In a small skillet over low heat, toast the almonds with 2 tablespoons sugar and a pinch of salt. Keep stirring to coat the almonds with the melted sugar. Continue for a few more minutes until nuts caramelize to a dark brown color, about 5 minutes. Spread them out on a non-stick surface to cool. When cooled, pulverize in a food processor or chop finely to obtain a praline.
Heat the milk with both brown and regular sugar. Stir to dissolve, add the cream and refrigerate for at least one hour. This will shorten the churning time.
Process the creamy mixture in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer’s instructions. When the mixture is set, sprinkle in the praline and process until it hardens further. Keep in the freezer until ready to serve.
Please note that I like my gelato to be egg-free and a relatively modest in sugar. As a consequence it melts quickly. That is, if you can wait long enough before polishing the bowl.
Serves 4-6
unfogettable fun in Thailand