Lemon Semifreddo Recipes

LEMON SEMIFREDDO RECIPE

Steps:

• Prepare a 9"-5" loaf pan by placing parchment paper in the bottom of the pan and a strip of parchment paper around the edges of the pan. Set aside
• Add the egg yolks, sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest and salt to a small saucepan. Heat over medium low heat, whisking constantly until the mix begins to thicken. If you have a candy thermometer, place it in the mix as it cooks and stop when it reached 170 degrees F (this should take about 4 minutes).
• Remove the curd from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Strain through a fine mesh sieve and then add the curd to the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat the curd until cooled and very fluffy.
• In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form.
• Fold the cooled curd into the whipped cream gently.
• Pour the lemon cream into the prepared cake pan and smooth the top.
• Sprinkle the top with the sliced almonds, pressing them gently onto the surface (this will be the semifreddo "crust").
• Wrap the loaf pan completely with plastic wrap and freeze for at least 8 hours, overnight if possible.
• Once frozen, remove from the freezer, take out the plastic wrap and run a sharp knife around the edge of the loaf pan between the parchment and the pan. Flip the dessert onto a serving tray or plate.
• Slice and serve while cold!

CITRUS SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Spray a 9 by 5 by 3-inch metal loaf pan with nonstick spray. Line the pan with plastic wrap, allowing the excess to hang over the ends and sides.
• Combine the crushed amaretti cookies and the melted butter. Put in the lined pan and press down to firm and form a crust.
• Whisk 1/2 cup of the sugar, the egg yolks, lemon juice, lime juice, limoncello, and salt in a large metal bowl to blend. Set the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water (do not allow the bottom of the bowl to touch the water). Whisk the egg mixture until it is thick and creamy, and a thermometer inserted into the mixture registers 160 degrees F, about 5 minutes. Set the bowl of custard into another bowl of ice water to cool completely. Stir in the zest.
• Using an electric mixer, beat the cream and remaining 1/4 cup sugar in another large bowl until firm peaks form. Using a large rubber spatula, gently fold the whipped cream into the custard. Spoon the mixture onto the prepared crust. Fold the overhanging plastic wrap over the custard and freeze until frozen, at least 8 hours or up to 3 days.
• Unfold the plastic wrap. Invert the semifreddo onto a platter and peel off the plastic wrap. Cut the semifreddo into 1-inch slices and sprinkle with crushed amaretti cookies and serve.

LIMONCELLO & RASPBERRY SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Line the base of a 1kg loaf tin (19cm x 12cm x 9cm deep) with baking parchment. For the semifreddo, mash the raspberries and half the sugar in a bowl with a fork. Whisk the cream, the rest of the sugar and the limoncello to soft peaks. Beat the crème fraîche briefly so it is in soft peaks like the cream. Gently fold the cream mixture and crème fraîche together.
• Pour the mashed raspberries into the cream and give a few stirs only - just enough to swirl it through the creamy mix. Pour the mixture into the loaf tin and smooth the top.
• For the coulis, mash the raspberries, sugar and limoncello with a fork, then push through a sieve.
• Open-freeze (see 'Try' below) the semifreddo then cover with cling film and foil and freeze for up to 1 month. Pour the sieved coulis into a rigid container and freeze for up to 1 month.
• To serve, thaw the coulis in the fridge overnight. Thaw the semifreddo in the fridge for 1 hr. Remove it from the tin and peel off the lining paper. Drizzle with a little of the coulis and scatter some raspberries over the top. Serve in slices with the rest of the coulis.

LEMON NOUGAT SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Process the ricotta and sugar in a food processor until smooth.
• Finely chop the nougat or wrap in a tea-towel and smash with a rolling pin until broken into small pieces.
• Whip the cream until soft peaks form. Combine the ricotta mixture, nougat, cream and zests in a bowl and mix well. Pour into a 2-liter mold that has been rinsed in cold water. Freeze until set. Turn out onto a platter and serve cut into slices with lime slices or fresh seasonal fruits.

LEMON-RASPBERRY SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Line a 4 1/2-by-8 1/2-inch loaf pan with 2 sheets of plastic wrap, leaving a 3-inch overhang on long sides. In a blender, puree raspberries and sugar, scraping down sides as needed. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing on solids; discard solids.
• In a large bowl, whip cream until soft peaks form. With a rubber spatula, fold in lemon curd. Spoon 2 cups cream mixture into pan and smooth top. Dip ladyfingers in raspberry puree and arrange in pan, parallel to long edges. Pour remaining raspberry puree on ladyfingers. Top with remaining cream mixture and smooth top.
• Wrap pan with overhanging plastic and freeze 8 hours (or up to 2 weeks). To serve, invert onto a serving platter, remove plastic, and slice.

LEMON SEMIFREDDO CAKE

Steps:

• Line bottoms and sides of two 5-by-9-inch loaf pans with parchment paper; set aside. Using a serrated knife, trim all edges of vanilla sheet cake by 1 inch so it measures 8 by 12 inches. Slice cake widthwise, through the top, into three vertical pieces, each 4 by 8 inches. Split each piece in half, slicing horizontally through the crumb. You should have six 4-by-8-inch layers. Set aside.
• Make the semifreddo: In a large heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, whisk together egg yolks, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar until smooth.
• Add wine, 1/2 cup lemon juice, and lemon zest; cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, and scraping across the bottom to prevent mixture from sticking to bowl, until mixture is thick enough to coat the back of the spoon, 6 to 7 minutes. Remove from heat, and transfer to a large bowl. Let cool to room temperature, or place pan in an ice bath, stirring occasionally, to expedite chilling.
• When custard has cooled, combine the water, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and remaining teaspoon lemon juice in a small saucepan. Bring mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Cook until mixture is slightly thickened and registers 240 degrees on a candy thermometer, about 8 minutes; wash down sides of pan with a pastry brush dipped in water to prevent crystals from forming. Remove from heat, and let mixture cool 2 to 3 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites and remaining tablespoon sugar on medium-high speed until stiff but not dry peaks form. With mixer still running, slowly drizzle syrup mixture into egg whites; continue beating until meringue has cooled slightly and the bowl is cool to the touch.
• In another large mixing bowl, whip cream with remaining 3 tablespoons confectioners? sugar until soft peaks form. Fold whipped cream into cooled lemon mixture; fold in egg white mixture. Mixture should be very smooth. Place rum in a small bowl.
• Fit one of the cake layers in the bottom of each prepared loaf pan. Using a pastry brush, lightly moisten top of cake with rum. Using an offset spatula, evenly spread 1 1/2 cups lemon filling over each. Repeat process, making another layer of cake, rum, and filling; cover each with one of the remaining cake layers. Place in freezer at least 5 hours or overnight.
• Just before serving, remove pans from freezer, and turn cakes out of pans; remove parchment paper. Slice into pieces.