Bananagelato Recipes

BANANA GELATO

Steps:

• Bring milk and bananas to a simmer in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 10 minutes.
• Cool 5 minutes, then purée in a blender or food processor until smooth. Return mixture to saucepan; set over very low heat to keep warm.
• Beat yolks and sugar in a large bowl with a mixer at high speed until thick.
• Beat half the milk mixture into yolk mixture in a thin stream, then combine with remaining milk mixture in saucepan. Set over low heat and cook until mixture coats back of a spoon, about 2 minutes. Stir in vanilla, salt and cream.
• Pour into large container, cover, and refrigerate at least 2 hours or up to 2 days. Pour mixture into the canister of an ice-cream freezer; freeze according to manufacturer's instructions.

BANANA GELATO

Steps:

• In a heavy saucepan, cook bananas and liqueur over low heat until falling apart, about 45 minutes. Remove from heat and puree.
• Bring milk to a simmer. Meanwhile, combine egg yolks and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat at medium-high speed until very thick and pale yellow, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Add half the milk to egg-yolk mixture and whisk until blended. Stir into remaining milk and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is thick enough to coat a spoon.
• Remove from heat and immediately stir in cream. Pass mixture through a strainer into a medium bowl set over an ice bath to chill.Stir in banana puree. Freeze in an ice-cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions. Store in a plastic container.

BANANA GELATO

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, heat milk over medium heat until bubbles form around edges of hte pan. Set aside and cover to keep hot.
• In a blender or food processor, puree the bananas, lemon juice and 1/4 cup sugar until smooth. Set aside.
• In the blender or food processor, beat the remaining 1/4 cup sugar and egg yolks until thick. WIth the machine running, gradually add the hot milk. Return the mixture to the sauce pan.
• Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon 6 to 8 minutes or until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon. Remove from heat and place pan in the bowl of an ice bath. Stir for 2 minutes to cool. Then stir in banana mixture. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours or until thoroughly chilled.
• Transfer the mixture to an ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer's instructions.

BANANA ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Prep your workstation: Create an ice bath by placing a moderate amount of ice and water in a large bowl. Set an empty, medium bowl in the larger one on top of the ice. Pour the heavy cream into the medium bowl and set a strainer on top. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg yolks until well combined.
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, stir together the milk, sugar, and salt until small bubbles form along the edges and the sugar has dissolved. Do not let boil.
• Gradually pour some of the milk into the bowl with the egg yolks, whisking constantly as you pour (I like to use a ladle for this). Once you've poured in some of the milk, return the saucepan to the stove over low heat. Slowly pour the yolks into the saucepan, stirring constantly. This process is called tempering and will keep the eggs from scrambling.
• Continue cooking the egg-milk mixture (also called custard) over low heat, stirring constantly and scraping the bottom of the saucepan with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, until the custard thickens enough to coat the back of the spatula. Strain the custard into the bowl with the heavy cream.
• Place half of the custard into a blender or food processor with the bananas. Puree until smooth, then pour it back into the bowl with the rest of the custard. Stir in the vanilla extract and rum. Cover, pressing a piece of plastic wrap against the surface, then chill thoroughly in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or, if time allows, overnight.
• Freeze the ice cream in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions, adding the chocolate during the last 5 minutes of churning. Transfer the ice cream to an airtight container and freeze 3 hours or overnight. Let stand at room temperature 10 minutes before serving.

SICILIAN GELATO-STYLE ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Whisk together 200 ml (about 0.8 cup) of the cold milk with the corn starch, making sure that there are no remaining lumps. Set aside for now.
• Blend the remaining 500 ml (about 2.1 cup) of the milk/cream, the sugar, the salt and vanilla bean (with seeds scraped out and added) in a sauce pan. Warm until steaming hot (not boiling!) on medium heat.
• Blend the corn starch mixture with the rest of the ingredients in the sauce pan. While barely reaching a boil, cook and stir for about four- five minutes, or until the mixture has begun to thicken and any possible "floury" taste (from the starch) has disappeared [and don't overcook: that would reduce the thickening powers of the starch].
• Take the ice cream base from the heat and let the mixture cool down.
• Refrigerate for a couple of hours, discard the vanilla bean, and freeze according to the instructions of your ice cream machine.
• In case you have no ice cream machine, still-freeze the base in your freezer (see the link below the box!) - this base is perfect for still-freezing, by the way!
• After the churning, place the ice cream in a freezer-safe container, cover with plastic film and a lid, and store in the freezer.

BANANAS FOSTER GELATO

Steps:

• In a small bowl, beat the egg yolks, brown sugar, salt and cinnamon for 4 minutes; set aside. , In a small heavy saucepan, heat milk and cream until bubbles form around sides of pan. Whisk a small amount of hot mixture into the egg mixture. Return all to the pan, whisking constantly., Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture reaches at least 160° and coats the back of a spoon. Quickly transfer to a large bowl; place in ice water and stir for 2 minutes. Stir in the rum and vanilla. Mash bananas with lemon juice; stir into the rum mixture., Press waxed paper onto surface of custard. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight., Fill the cylinder of an ice cream freezer two-thirds full; freeze according to the manufacturer's directions. When ice cream is frozen, transfer to a freezer container; freeze for 2-4 hours before serving., If desired, top with sliced bananas and caramel topping.

GELATO

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, mix milk and cream. Warm until foam forms around the edges. Remove from heat.
• In a large bowl, beat the egg yolks and sugar until frothy. Gradually pour the warm milk into the egg yolks, whisking constantly. Return mixture to saucepan; cook over medium heat, stirring with a wooden spoon until the mixture gels slightly and coats the back of the spoon. If small egg lumps begin to show, remove from heat immediately.
• Pour the mixture through a sieve or fine strainer into a bowl. Cover, and chill for several hours or overnight.
• Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker, and freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions. Transfer to a sealed container, and freeze until firm. If the gelato is too firm, place it in the refrigerator until it reaches the desired consistency.