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Passion Fruit–Tangerine Sorbet

The first time I split open a passion fruit and slurped down the dripping juices, the intense flavor knocked me for such a loop that I felt as if a tropical bomb had gone off in my head. From then on, I was hooked. Depending on where you live, fresh passion fruit may be hard to find, but they’re well worth tracking down. Don’t shy away from ones that are a tad wrinkled, as the creases indicate ripeness (they’re often marked down in price, too!). You can also buy frozen passion fruit purée (see Resources, page 270), which is inexpensive and convenient. It’s great to have on hand in the freezer: I’ll often lop off a chunk and add it to a pitcher of orange juice for a morning tropical blast.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes about 1 quart (1 liter)

Ingredients

3 cups (750 ml) freshly squeezed tangerine juice
1 cup (200 g) sugar
1 cup (250 ml) strained fresh passion fruit pulp (from about 12 passion fruits; see Tip) or thawed frozen purée
1/4 cup (60 ml) Champagne or other sparkling wine, or 2 tablespoons (30 ml) vodka

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a medium saucepan, warm 1 cup of the tangerine juice with the sugar, stirring until the sugar completely dissolves. Pour the mixture into a medium bowl and add the remaining tangerine juice, the passion fruit pulp or purée, and the Champagne, other sparkling wine, or vodka. Cover and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled.

    Step 2

    Freeze in an ice cream machine according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

  2. Variation

    Step 3

    To make TANGERINE SORBET, omit the passion fruit juice and use a total of 4 cups (1 liter) freshly squeezed tangerine juice.

  3. tip

    Step 4

    To strain fresh passion fruit pulp, halve the fruits, scoop the pulp into a strainer set over a bowl, and press the pulp to separate the seeds from the juice. Save a few of the seeds and mix them into the sorbet just after churning.

Cover of David Lebovitz's Ready for Dessert featuring plates of cookies and a glass of milk.
Reprinted with permission from Ready for Dessert: My Best Recipes, copyright 2010 by David Lebovitz. Published by Ten Speed Press. All Rights Reserved. Buy the full book at Amazon or Bookshop.
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