Satisfy your cravings with homemade habanero ice cream. This recipe has the perfect balance of heat and sweetness. When a recipe is “secret,” it’s time to experiment at home.
PrepTime: 25 minutes, plus 4 hours or overnight refrigeration, and freezing time
ServingsYield: 1 liter (1 generous quart)
Ingredients
198 grams (1 cup) granulated sugar
6 large egg yolks
Pinch of salt
473 ml (2 cups) heavy cream
355 ml (1-1/2 cups) whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla paste or half a vanilla bean, scraped
Half a red or green habanero pepper (with seeds)
Preparation
1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the sugar, egg yolks, and salt; set aside. Combine the heavy cream, milk, vanilla, and habanero pepper in a large saucepan. Place the pan over medium heat and bring to a simmer, then remove from heat.
2. Whisk the egg yolk mixture until blended. While whisking vigorously, gradually add a ladleful of the hot milk mixture. Whisk the egg mixture back into the saucepan containing the milk mixture. Return the pan to low heat and stir constantly with a wooden spoon until the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of the spoon, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a heatproof bowl, and set in an ice water bath until cool, about 10 minutes. Pour through a fine mesh strainer into a container. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
3. Freeze in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Serve immediately for slightly soft ice cream, or scrape into a covered container and freeze until solid.
Denise Landis had been employed as an archeologist for seven years before a food editor hired her to test some recipes from a cookbook manuscript. This short stint led to longer assignments, and two years later she began testing recipes for the New York Times. She has been a professional recipe tester and editor for over 25 years, is the author of a New York Times cookbook, and has written for numerous publications. She is a member of the New York Chapter of Les Dames d’ Escoffier.