APRICOT TEQUILA ICE CREAM

Apricot Tequila Ice Cream image

Tequila makes a tangy partner for sweet apricots in this fresh take on ice cream. Although nothing compares to the flavor and texture of ice cream made from scratch, you can take a shortcut and simply fold the tequila-soaked apricots into a half gallon of softened vanilla-bean ice cream from your supermarket.

Yield serves 6

Number Of Ingredients 6

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Ingredients

6 ounces dried pitted apricots, diced (1 1/2 cups)
1/3 cup golden tequila
1 vanilla bean, split in half lengthwise
3 cups heavy cream
6 large egg yolks
6 tablespoons sugar

Steps:

Combine the apricots, tequila, and vanilla bean in a small jar. Cover, and let macerate overnight at room temperature.
The next day, set up an ice bath: Place a medium bowl in a large bowl of ice. Set a fine-mesh sieve over the medium bowl.
Remove the vanilla bean from the jar and put it in a medium-size heavy saucepan. (Set the tequila-soaked apricots aside.) Add the cream to the pan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. While the cream is heating, whisk the egg yolks and sugar in a medium bowl until the mixture is pale in color and very smooth.
Gradually add the hot cream to the yolks, whisking constantly (discard the vanilla bean). Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, for about 4 minutes, until the custard registers 170° to 175°F on an instant-read thermometer and coats the back of the spoon.
Immediately pour the custard through the sieve into the bowl set in the ice bath. Let the custard cool, whisking it occasionally. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours, until very cold, or overnight.
Pulse the apricots with the tequila in a food processor until they form a thick, chunky puree. Add 1/2 cup of the chilled custard and pulse to combine. Then stir the entire apricot mixture into the remaining custard. Churn the custard in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions. Transfer the ice cream to an airtight container and freeze for 12 hours, or until hard.
There's no doubt about it, tequila is the best contribution Mexico has made to the world! We are definitely tequila drinkers in my family. My brother goes for the blanco, or silver, the strongest in agave flavor since it's bottled immediately after the distillation process. My dad goes for the reposado or rested, which is aged for more than two months and gentler on the palate. Oranges are mandatory with his tequila, as biting into a sweet orange wedge balances and further enhances the drink's flavor. I favor añejos, or aged tequilas and often pair them with sangrita, a sweet-and-sour tomato-based drink that is sipped alternately with the tequila. Oro, or golden tequila, is preferred for making mixed drinks, cooking, and baking; it is commonly blended with caramel color and sugar syrup, so it tends to be sweeter.