Fig Port-Wine Pistachio Ice Cream
OK, enough with the figs, you might be saying. The season is over. Well, that’s mostly true, but the way my brain is working these days, if I say to myself I’ll save this fig post for next year, I’m likely to forget, or to find it impossible to locate these photos among the thousands that are buried in my computer never, neverland. So here you have it – another fig recipe. Tuck it away for next season if figs have disappeared from your markets or if your tree is finished producing for the year.
If you’ve got purple figs, the ice cream will take on a beautiful dark pink hue. But I used up the last of my purple figs in a lemony- fig olive oil cake (click here for recipe). When some friends invited me to pick some figs from their tree, which happens to produce green figs, I wasn’t about to complain. Especially not when they were as juicy and flavorful as these.
The recipe is adapted from one in David Lebovitz’ book, “The Perfect Scoop.” I changed it to add port wine instead of water, and threw in some pistachios too. The wine adds flavor and helps to keep it from hardening to a rock solid mass. Feel free to use another type of alcohol if you prefer – rum, grand marnier or whatever you fancy. Place the mixture in an ice cream maker and process according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Sprinkle with a few more pistachios on top and dig in.
Fig-Port Wine-Pistachio Ice Cream
adapted from David Lebovitz’ “The Perfect Scoop”
printable recipe here
2 lbs. fresh figs (about 20)
1/2 cup port wine, plus 3 Tablespoons
1 lemon, preferably unsprayed
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 cup chopped pistachios
Remove the hard stem ends from the figs, then cut each fig into 8 pieces. Put the figs in a medium, non-reactive saucepan with 1/2 cup port wine, and zest the lemon directly into the saucepan. Cover and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 8-10 minutes until the figs are tender. Remove the lid, add the sugar and continue to cook until it reaches a jam-like consistency. Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature. Blend together with cream, lemon juice, and pistachios, and 3 more T. of port wine. Chill in the fridge and then put in your ice cream maker per the manufacturer’s instructions.
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This ice cream is irresistible! It looks and sounds ever so luscious.
Cheers,
Rosa
Oh, but this sounds good. This settles it. I have got to get a fig tree. Your flavor combination is out of this world. I can just imagine the rich and complex Port with the figs and pistachios. I want this now.
"The Perfect Scoop" is a wonderful book, one of my "go to" resources for frozen desserts. What a treasure trove. Part of what I enjoy about the book, aside from David Lebovitz' easygoing style, is the many recipes that are based not on creme anglaise, but just simple mixtures of dairy and sugar. These allow the flavors to come through, unmuted by egg, making for a lighter product. David Lebovitz rocks, and so does this ice cream.
I always say I'm getting an ice cream maker but I never do, I swear I'm getting one next year for sure I can no longer resist yours and Adri's concoctions!
I was in Italy in November and was picking figs off of trees in November, so it is not over until it is over. There is so much fruit just falling off of the trees and not being used. Such abundance. I like the addition of the port and the pistachios!!
This is my kind of ice cream! I don't think it's for my kids so I would never have to worry about them eating it all…lol.
This ice cream looks so unbelievably fabulous, Linda! I have been wanting to get an ice cream machine for ages and if I show this recipe to my husband I'm sure he'll support that decision! 🙂
ha un aspetto delizioso, adoro sia i fichi che il pistacchio !
I am saving this recipe for next summer's figs. The season is over here. What a heavenly combinations of flavors, Linda. Do you think I could substitute fig jam?
As far as I'm concerned, you can never have enough figs, or enough pistacios for that matter. Two of my favorite foods in one package? What's not to like!
And to think that I just put my ice cream maker away today (pink-finger truth!) for the season in order to make room for my mother's Italian coffee machine (who stays with us in the winter). She also brought several more kitchen gadgets that I have no idea where to put them! But I can always make this delicious ice cream next (late) summer and enjoy! I love how you added the pistachios too!