Description
Refreshing homemade lemon sorbet delivers a zesty citrus experience perfect for summer desserts. Italian-style preparation highlights pure, tangy flavors with minimal ingredients, letting you savor each cool, crisp spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (240 ml / 8 fl oz) fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (240 ml / 8 fl oz) water
- 1 tbsp lemon zest
- 1 tbsp vodka
- Fresh mint leaves (for garnish)
Instructions
- Syrup Preparation: Dissolve sugar in water within a small saucepan, whisking meticulously until the mixture becomes completely transparent and free of granular texture.
- Syrup Heating: Position the pan over medium heat, gently stirring until sugar crystals melt completely, creating a pristine, glossy liquid.
- Cooling Process: Allow the syrup to cool naturally to room temperature, which typically requires 20-25 minutes, enabling optimal flavor development.
- Citrus Infusion: Extract lemon zest and juice with precision, capturing the fruit’s vibrant essence and aromatic qualities.
- Flavor Integration: Blend the fresh lemon components into the cooled syrup, whisking thoroughly to ensure uniform distribution of citrus notes.
- Freezing Technique: Pour the lemon-infused mixture into a shallow freezer-safe container, spreading evenly to promote consistent crystallization.
- Sorbet Formation: Place in the freezer, periodically scraping and folding the developing mixture with a fork to create a light, smooth texture, continuing until fully frozen and delicately crystallized.
Notes
- Zest with Care: Use only the bright yellow part of lemon peel, avoiding the bitter white pith underneath to ensure a pure, clean citrus flavor.
- Prevent Sugar Crystallization: Stir sugar syrup gently and consistently to dissolve completely, creating a smooth base that prevents grainy texture.
- Master Freezing Technique: Scrape mixture every 30-45 minutes during freezing process to break up ice crystals, guaranteeing a silky, light sorbet consistency.
- Dietary Adaptation: Substitute regular sugar with honey or agave for a natural sweetener alternative, making the sorbet suitable for those seeking less processed ingredients.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Desserts, Snacks, Drinks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 40 g
- Sodium: 0 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 52 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg