1.17.2009

Meyer Lemon Sorbet

Meyer Lemon Sorbet

Did You Know? Legend has it that the Roman emperor Nero used to send his slaves scurrying to the mountains to collect snow and ice to make flavored ices, the precursors to ice cream, in the first century.

I was so excited to try this recipe out. My ice cream maker attachment just came in the mail, and this was my first shot at homemade ice cream...well sorbet actually, but you get the idea. I assembled all of the individual parts, and made the lemon/syrup mixture early in the day, and just stuck it in the fridge to chill for a while. Then when my Dad came home from work, I had him set up the actual ice cream maker, so all I had to do was pour the juice into the machine. I was too lazy to read the instructions, so I just decided waiting for someone else to would be better. So for all you "do ahead of time" people, this recipe is perfect.

It couldn't have been any easier. I was so surprised at how quickly and effortlessly homemade sorbet comes together. A perfect excuse to make this frozen treat all the time. I can't wait to try out some real ice cream and frozen yogurt recipes. The possibilities for mix-ins seem endless. I would love to hear some of your favorite concoctions.



Meyer Lemon Zest

As for the sorbet? It was really tasty, but very strong. I recommend this for the lemon lovers in your life. I might leave out the zest the next time I make something like this, but all of that aside, it really was good. I would definately make this again, if not only for the feelings of warm, Summer months it brought with every spoonful. The texture was so smooth, and the flavor was tart, sweet, and refreshing all at once. I imagine you could substitute any fruit juice here with excellent results, but going with our lemon kick, I went for the Meyer.

Meyer Lemon Sorbet
1 cup water
2 tablespoons Meyer lemon zest (about 2 - 3 lemons)
2 cups Meyer lemon juice (about 10 lemons, some you zested)
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup limoncello (vodka is ok to substitute)

Place water, zest and sugar into small saucepan and bring to a boil. Let boil for one minute and then remove from heat.

Pour lemon juice through a chinois or sieve to remove the seeds and pulp. Add 1/3 cup of limoncello to the juice and place in an ice bath to chill. Pour cooled zest and sugar mixture through chinois or sieve, and into the ice bath with the juice. Stir to mix and chill mixture in the ice bath (or freezer) until less than 45° F. Pour into ice cream maker and freeze according to your maker's instructions.

Once chilled, remove the sorbet from the ice cream maker and place in an odor-free container. Chill the container of sorbet for several hours in the freezer. Because of the alcohol, it will always be a tiny bit soft (which I love).

...REMINDER...

Don't forget to send me your links for all those lemon recipes you have stashed away! I've already received so many, and I can't wait to show you all. Thanks again to everyone who has participated, and if you don't know what I'm talking about, read the end of this post.


24 comments:

  1. oh yum it is so hot down here all i feel like is cold icy treats, and i love lemon so this suits me nicely!!!
    have a great day lovelie
    ox

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  2. This would be great once it warms up here.

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  3. What a delicious way to use meyer lemon.
    Cheers,
    Elra

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  4. Nice presentation, looks really delicious! I've always wanted to get an ice-cream maker!!

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  5. This looks fabulous. I love your presentation. I bet this is awesome on a hot day!

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  6. That does look refreshing even though it's 10 degrees outside. I love how lemon sorbet leaves a fresh feeling in the mouth.
    Perfect photo!

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  7. Wow, I'm so jealous, I'd love an ice cream maker (especially since I got A Passion for Ice Cream...it's hard to read that and not run out and buy one immediately). What kind of ice cream maker do you have?

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  8. You know, yours is one of the few blogs where I want to make every single recipe, and this is no exception. I don't have an ice cream maker (yet) but it's my goal by next summer. Given that we're having well below record temperatures here these days, I can't bring myself to make a frozen treat yet anyway. I'm fine just fantasizing about yours for now!

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  9. Lemon gelato is so gorgeously refreshing! This looks so lovely in the lemon too :)

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  10. You have a lovely site, and I'm glad to have found it during your lemon phase! I love anything lemon flavoured! I even managed to make lemon sorbet without an ice cream machine! Here is a link for my lemon tart - hope it helps your cause! http://yesdessertmenu.blogspot.com/2008/09/tart-au-citron.html

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  11. I have so many meyer lemons right now! I made a meyer lemon granita once with good success, will have to try this too.

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  12. What a beautiful photo of lemon sorbet. I can almost taste it. Hope to pull out my cuisinart ice cream maker this week and give the sorbet a try -- although I don't think Meyer Lemons have reached the stores in northern MN yet.

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  13. i've got to get some more meyer lemons! this looks so refreshing!

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  14. Amira: I'm so jealous of your hot weather, enjoy!

    VeggieGirl: Definately!

    Terry & Dennis: I know, I can't wait until Summer comes around again.

    Elra: It was. Definately will be making again come July.

    Pigpigscorner: Thanks, I just got mine. It's so fun!

    Donna-FFW: Thanks!

    Dawn: Yeah, I felt like dreaming of warm weather (much like yourself), so I decided this would do the trick.

    Hayley: It's the attachment for the Kitchen Aid mixer.

    Andrea: You're way too kind. Thanks for always stopping by, and I hope I can continue to please you.

    Darius: I completely agree.

    Lorraine: Thanks. I had tons of lemon skins lying around from the 2 cups of juice this required, so I thought I would put them to use as a bowl.

    Annie: Thanks for the recipe, adding it now.

    Sara: Michael Chiarello! I'm so jealous.

    All About Food: Good luck with the sorbet, it was so simple.

    Kickpleat: Definately go stock up!

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  15. Sounds so light and refreshing! I absolutely must stock up on lemons... It's definitely their season now!

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  16. I should grab some lemons and make sorbet! I love how you used the peel to hold the sorbet ...genius!

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  17. Sounds wonderful! Again, thanks for the great idea. We have more meyers than I know what to do with :)

    That photo is also amazing. Simple and lovely!

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  18. First time here and loving your blog, the photos are great!

    I love the way you've served this sorbet, I think I need to drag my ice cream machine out and give this a go!

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  19. That looks so good, and what a cute idea to have it in the lemons.

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  20. I would love a great big bowl of this. So gorgeous!

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  21. I love your series on cooking with lemons...so creative!

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  22. I just made a half recipe in an ice cream ball that I bought at a thrift store for $2, rolling it on the floor, and it set up in less than 15 minutes! Its delicious...helping me to remember that this Massachusetts winter is on its way out. Thanks!

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