Salt-Frozen Parmesan Ice Cream with Tomato Marmalade and Basil Gremolata

By Mark Bitterman, Salt Block Cooking: 70 Recipes for Grilling, Chilling, Searing and Serving on Himalayan Salt Blocks
Images
Salt-Frozen Parmesan Ice Cream with Tomato Marmalade and Basil Gremolata
Serves
Makes 6 servings
Ingredients
  • 1 (8- to 10-inch) square or (9-inch) round salt block

  • Ice Cream:
  • 5 cups heavy cream
  • 8 ounces Parmigiano Reggiano, freshly grated

  • Marmalade:
  • 1 pound plum tomatoes, peeled and coarsely chopped
  • ⅓ cup sugar
  • 1½ tablespoons sherry vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, use high-quality

  • Gremolata:
  • 12 fresh basil leaves, finely chopped
  • ¼ garlic clove, minced
  • ½ cup chopped toasted hazelnuts
  • 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest

  • To Finish:
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, use high-quality


Procedure
Delight your taste buds with this savory ice cream that has just a touch of sweetness from the tomato marmalade.

Note: Chill the salt block in the freezer for 6 hours before you want to finish the ice cream.

To make the ice cream, bring the cream to a simmer in a large saucepan. Add the cheese slowly, stirring all the time, and continue to simmer and stir over low heat until the cheese has melted and the mixture is smooth, about 5 minutes. Pass through a strainer to remove any lumps, and let cool to room temperature. Put in a closed container and chill thoroughly in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight.

An hour before you want to finish the ice cream, put the container of ice cream mixture in the freezer.

To make the marmalade, cook the tomatoes, sugar, and vinegar in a medium saucepan, stirring frequently until lightly thickened, about 15 minutes. Stir in the olive oil and let cool to room temperature.

To make the gremolata, mix the basil, garlic, hazelnuts, and lemon zest together in a small bowl.

To finish the ice cream, put the frozen salt block on a rimmed baking sheet to catch any drips. Spoon half of the chilled ice cream mixture onto the frozen salt block, using a pastry scraper or the side of a spatula to control its flow. Scrape and fold the ice cream across the surface of the salt until it sets up. Scrape into a chilled bowl put in the freezer while repeating the process with the remaining half of the ice cream mixture.

To serve: scoop the ice cream into chilled bowls. Drizzle each serving with the olive oil, and top each with a spoonful of marmalade and a sprinkling of gremolata.

Salt-Frozen Parmesan Ice Cream with Tomato Marmalade and Basil Gremolata

By Mark Bitterman, Salt Block Cooking: 70 Recipes for Grilling, Chilling, Searing and Serving on Himalayan Salt Blocks
Serves
Makes 6 servings
Ingredients
  • 1 (8- to 10-inch) square or (9-inch) round salt block

  • Ice Cream:
  • 5 cups heavy cream
  • 8 ounces Parmigiano Reggiano, freshly grated

  • Marmalade:
  • 1 pound plum tomatoes, peeled and coarsely chopped
  • ⅓ cup sugar
  • 1½ tablespoons sherry vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, use high-quality

  • Gremolata:
  • 12 fresh basil leaves, finely chopped
  • ¼ garlic clove, minced
  • ½ cup chopped toasted hazelnuts
  • 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest

  • To Finish:
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, use high-quality


Procedure
Delight your taste buds with this savory ice cream that has just a touch of sweetness from the tomato marmalade.

Note: Chill the salt block in the freezer for 6 hours before you want to finish the ice cream.

To make the ice cream, bring the cream to a simmer in a large saucepan. Add the cheese slowly, stirring all the time, and continue to simmer and stir over low heat until the cheese has melted and the mixture is smooth, about 5 minutes. Pass through a strainer to remove any lumps, and let cool to room temperature. Put in a closed container and chill thoroughly in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight.

An hour before you want to finish the ice cream, put the container of ice cream mixture in the freezer.

To make the marmalade, cook the tomatoes, sugar, and vinegar in a medium saucepan, stirring frequently until lightly thickened, about 15 minutes. Stir in the olive oil and let cool to room temperature.

To make the gremolata, mix the basil, garlic, hazelnuts, and lemon zest together in a small bowl.

To finish the ice cream, put the frozen salt block on a rimmed baking sheet to catch any drips. Spoon half of the chilled ice cream mixture onto the frozen salt block, using a pastry scraper or the side of a spatula to control its flow. Scrape and fold the ice cream across the surface of the salt until it sets up. Scrape into a chilled bowl put in the freezer while repeating the process with the remaining half of the ice cream mixture.

To serve: scoop the ice cream into chilled bowls. Drizzle each serving with the olive oil, and top each with a spoonful of marmalade and a sprinkling of gremolata.