MANDARIN ORANGE ICE CREAM WITH SESAME BRITTLE

Mandarin Orange Ice Cream with Sesame Brittle image

Provided by Lillian Chou

Categories Milk/Cream Ice Cream Machine Dessert Honey Orange Juice Gourmet Kidney Friendly Vegetarian Pescatarian Wheat/Gluten-Free Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free Kosher

Yield Makes about 2 quarts

Number Of Ingredients 13

Ingredients

For custard:
3 cups heavy cream
3 cups fresh mandarin orange or clementine juice
6 large egg yolks
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup mild honey
1/2 tablespoon grated mandarin orange or clementine zest
For brittle:
2/3 cup white sesame seeds (not toasted)
1/2 cup black sesame seeds (not toasted)
2/3 cup sugar
3 tablespoons mild honey
Equipment: an ice cream maker

Steps:

Make custard:
Bring cream, juice, and a pinch of salt to a simmer in a heavy medium saucepan over medium heat.
Whisk together yolks, sugar, and honey, then add half of cream mixture in a slow stream, whisking constantly. Pour back into saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until custard thickens slightly and registers 170 to 175°F on an instant-read thermometer (do not let boil).
Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl and stir in zest. Chill custard, stirring occasionally, until cold, at least 6 hours.
Make sesame brittle:
Place a large sheet of foil (shiny side up) on a heatproof work surface.
Toast white and black sesame seeds in a large heavy skillet over medium heat, stirring until white seeds are golden, about 8 minutes, then transfer to a plate.
Heat sugar and honey with a pinch of salt in a 2 quart heavy sauce pan over medium heat, stirring often, until deep golden, about 5 minutes. Stir in sesame seeds and remove from heat. Pour mixture onto foil, smoothing top and spreading into a 10-to 11-inch round with a metal offset spatula (mixture will be very hot), then cool to room temperature.
Invert brittle onto a cutting board and peel off foil. Cut brittle into small pieces. Transfer to airtight container.
Make ice cream:
Freeze custard in an ice cream maker in 2 separate batches. Fold 3/4 cup sesame brittle into each batch after freezing. Transfer to an airtight container and put in freezer to firm up, about 4 hours. Serve with remaining brittle if desired.