Plum Sorbet With Sloe Gin Recipes

PLUM SORBET OR GRANITA

Steps:

• Combine the red wine, clove, peppercorns, vanilla and sugar in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and strain into a bowl. Allow to cool. Blend the plums with the honey, corn syrup and wine syrup in a blender until smooth. Chill for 2 hours or overnight.
• If you are making granita, place a 9-by-11-inch baking dish in the freezer. You may omit the corn syrup and reduce the sugar if desired.
• Using an immersion blender, blend the plum mixture for 30 seconds. If making sorbet, freeze in an ice cream maker following the manufacturer's directions. If making granita, scrape into the chilled baking dish and place back in the freezer. Set the timer for 30 minutes. Using a fork, scrape the ice crystals from the outside of the baking dish toward the center. Return to the freezer and set the timer for another 30 minutes. Continue to scrape the mixture with a fork every 30 minutes until you have a uniform frozen mixture. It should not be frozen solid. If you forget to scrape and the mixture does freeze like an ice cube, cut into chunks and use a food processor fitted with the steel blade to break it up. Transfer to a container and freeze. Allow to soften for 15 minutes in the refrigerator before serving.

SLOE GIN FIZZ COCKTAIL

Steps:

• Place 2 ice cubes in a highball glass. Set aside in the freezer.
• Combine sloe gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker. Add ice; cover and shake until chilled. Strain into the prepared highball glass. Stir in club soda. Garnish with a slice of lemon.

GIN & TONIC SORBET

Steps:

• Put the sugar in a pan with 400ml water and warm over a low heat until dissolved. Increase the heat and boil for 1 min. Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly.
• Pour the tonic water into a bowl, add the sugar syrup, then chill in the fridge until cold.
• Once the tonic mix is cold, add the gin, lime and lemon zests and juice, and pour into a container, then freeze until just frozen - this will take about 2 hrs.
• Remove the just-frozen sorbet from the freezer and break up with a fork. Froth the egg white with a fork, then add both to a food processor and pulse to blitz together - do it quickly so it doesn't actually start to melt. Pour the mix back into your container and freeze until solid. Freeze extra slices of lemons and limes on a tray until solid. Serve the sorbet scooped into glasses or small bowls topped with lemon and lime slices

PLUM SORBET

Steps:

• Wash the plums, cut them in half and remove the pits. Cut the plums in quarters and cook them over low to medium heat with the orange juice for about 15 minutes, stirring frequently. Puree the plums in a blender or food processor and chill.
• Meanwhile, bring the sugar and water to a boil and simmer for five minutes. Add the syrup to the puree, along with about one tablespoon kirsch, and mix well. Cool and freeze according to the manufacturer's directions for your ice cream maker.

PLUM GIN

Steps:

• Wash the plums and remove any leaves and stalks. Pierce the plums all over with a fork or the tip of a sharp knife, then halve (leave the stones in). Tip into a large, sterilised, sealable jar (about 2 litres) with a wide neck - the plums should easily fit inside. Alternatively, divide between two smaller jars.
• Sprinkle over 150g sugar and add the gin (reserve the gin bottle if you're planning to decant the plum gin back into it later). Seal the lid and give the jar a good shake. Store in a cool, dark place for at least a month, giving it a shake every few days for the first week or so to mix everything together and dissolve the sugar.
• Check the flavour after a month and continue to infuse if you prefer a stronger flavour - it can be left for up to three months. Or, add another 50g sugar and leave for two or three weeks if you prefer it sweeter. When you're happy with the flavour, strain the gin through a fine mesh cloth or muslin into a clean bottle and discard the fruit (you can also eat the boozy plums alongside sponge cakes or ice cream). Store in a cool, dark place. Drink on its own, in a G&T or mix with lemon juice and sugar syrup for a plum gin sour.

SLOE GIN

Steps:

• Wash and dry the sloes.
• Either pop them in the freezer for a week or so, until the skins after cracked, or use a needle or sharp skewer to make holes in their skins.
• Put the sloes into a large glass jar or bottle.
• Add the sugar.
• Pour on the gin.
• Add the cloves and essence if using.
• Seal the container.
• Leave the container for at least two months. Shake it every two or three days at first, then every week.
• Strain the liquid into smaller bottles. The longer you wait before this step, the better the drink will taste.
• Be warned - this is strong stuff! (Hic!).