Monday, June 22, 2015

Blueberry Buttermilk Ice Cream

Blueberry Buttermilk Ice Cream 2

I'm sure you all know this feeling ... you come across a recipe - on another blog, in a book, in a magazine, wherever - and you're utterly captivated by it.  The picture makes it look beautiful, the recipe sounds great, but then somehow it just fails to live up to expectations, leaving you feeling more than a little disappointed.

So let me tell you - this ice cream was not good, not good at all.  Was I disappointed, however? - no, on the contrary, because this ice cream exceeded my expectations - it wasn't just good, it was fabulous.  I love ice cream any time of year (case in point, it is currently the middle of winter in my part of the world), and this ice cream offered the sweet freshness of blueberries (reminding me that summer will come again), the tang of lemon, and thanks to the buttermilk was surprisingly fresh and light.

How did I stumble across this frozen scoop of joy?  Well, as those of you who visit regularly will know, I like to play along at the Secret Recipe Club.  If that's new to you then let me explain.  The club has over a hundred members, divided into four groups, and each month one member is assigned (in secret) to another member from their group.  That person then selects a recipe (or more) to make, photograph, and prepare a blog post - all in secret.  Then everyone in the group posts their recipe on the same day, and of course the secret is then out.  It's a always a thrill to find out who has posted something from your own blog, and is a great way to meet and discover some new blogs.   If you are a food blogger and interested in joining the Secret Recipe Club, be sure to check out the Join SRC page.

This month I was assigned to A Calculated Whisk, hosted by the lovely Becky.  Becky's blog features loads of creative gluten free and paleo recipes, so I knew I would have no problem finding the kind of healthy food that I like to enjoy - even treat food that is on the healthy side.  Her blog features a great recipe index, which makes finding just what your heart desires ever so easy, and her passion for food styling and photography is evident in the gorgeous images that grace all her recipes.  With her love for good healthy eating and practising yoga, Becky and I clearly have a great deal in common - it's such a shame that a great ocean divides us, as I would love to be able to roll out my mat and do some yoga with Becky, before heading to the kitchen to whip up some special post-practice treats.  But stranger things have happened and who knows when the opportunity to do just that might arise.  Until then, I can keep Becky close in the kitchen by cooking some of her recipes, and I can tell you there are quite a few that have been bookmarked for the weeks ahead:  Roasted Cauliflower with Creamy Cilantro Pesto, because cauliflower is one vegetable I can never get enough of;  Zucchini Lasagne, just take a look - you will want it too;  Kale & Bacon Quiches with Hash Brown Crust, hello?! - if you're not hooked at bacon, I defy you to get past the hash brown crust;  and Lemon Cheesecake Truffles, look so utterly divine I can't wait to try them.

But in the end, being the ice cream addict I am, I couldn't go past Becky's Blueberry Buttermilk Ice Cream, and I was certainly not disappointed.  This ice cream is light and luscious, and in the depths of winter reminded me of the possibility of summer days ahead.  I made very minimal changes to the original recipe.  Because the buttermilk is low in fat and there are no eggs in this recipe, Becky used gelatine in her version to add a little creaminess - I didn't have any gelatine on hand, but I did have half a can of sweetened condensed milk that needed to be used up, so I used that instead and cut back the honey in the original recipe a little bit.  Becky also used some lemon liqueur which I didn't have, so I subbed in a whole fresh lemon.  I hope you'll give this recipe a try and enjoy it as much as I am.

Blueberry Buttermilk Ice Cream 1

Blueberry Buttermilk Ice Cream
Adapted from this recipe
from A Calculated Whisk
Click here for a printable copy of this recipe

1-1/2 cups buttermilk
1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
1 tablespoon honey
1x lemon, washed
2 cups frozen blueberries (do not defrost)
2/3 cup cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
pinch of  sea salt

Place 1/2 cup of the buttermilk into a small saucepan and set over low heat and warm gently - keep an eye on it and do not allow the mixture to come to a simmer.  Remove from the heat and whisk in the condensed milk and honey, stirring until dissolved.

Cut the lemon into smallish chunks, flick out any seeds, and then put all the lemon chunks (yes, skin and all) into the food processor and blitz until very finely chopped, almost a puree.

Add the buttermilk mixture to the food processor, along with the blueberries, cream, vanilla and salt.  Process until smooth, then transfer to a jug and refrigerate for a few hours.

Remove chilled mixture from the fridge and churn in an ice cream maker, according to manufacturer's instructions.  Dive in straight away, or transfer to a freezer-proof container and freeze for several hours to firm up.

I hope you enjoy this dish as much as I did, and visit the links below to check out all the other great dishes my Secret Recipe Club friends made.



29 comments:

  1. That sounds amazing! It's summer here, and I am definitely trying this.

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    1. I'm so envious, Karen - we are effectively only one month into winter, and I'm already sick of the cold and longing for summer :-)

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  2. It's never too cold for ice cream and this lemony blueberry ice cream looks fabulous.

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    1. I totally agree, Clare - it's never, ever too cold for ice cream. Lemon and blueberry turns out to be a great flavour combo as I've just discovered :-)

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  3. you got me! I thought you did not care for the recipe at first ;-)

    what a gorgeous color, we love blueberries and I need to make another batch of ice cream as my raspberry sorbet is just about finished

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    1. Thanks, Sally - the colour is rather divine, isn't it?! Definitely keep that ice cream machine cranking and try a batch of this :-)

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  4. Thanks so much for your kind words, Sue! I am so happy you loved the ice cream. What great changes you made--I am really eager to try this with a whole lemon.

    Who knows--perhaps yoga together IS in our futures! I would absolutely love to travel to NZ some day :)

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    1. I really did love this ice cream, Becky, and spending time visiting your beautiful blog. I'd love to know what you think if you try it with the whole lemon.

      And if you ever come visit NZ would be great to do a bit of yoga together - and eat some beautiful food.
      xo

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  5. Hello delicious! I am just starting to ramp up my ice cream making. I'd love to have this stocked in my freezer!

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    1. Thanks, Erin - hope this finds a place in your freezer real soon :-)

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  6. Oh... my.... that sounds INCREDIBLE!!

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    1. Thanks, Rebekah, and thanks for taking the time to stop by.

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  7. I can eat ice cream anytime of the year too. Love the color, looks delicious!

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    1. Thanks, Cheri - seems like there are plenty of us who will stop at nothing for ice cream, even in the middle of winter.

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  8. The picture is fabulous. Makes me want to jump on over to your part of the world and have a sample. Happy Reveal Day!

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    1. Thanks, Emily - let me know when you're coming, and I'll be sure to have a batch ready, though you might want to wait till summer!!

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  9. Happy Reveal Day~ Any day is an ice cream day in my book:) Lynn

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  10. I most definitely need to get an ice cream maker so I can make some of this delicious looking ice cream!! Great pick this month :)

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    1. Seriously, Melissa, I'm not totally huge on kitchen gadgets that hang around gathering dust, but I could not be without my ice cream maker. If burglars raided my house and I was only allowed to save one thing, the ice cream maker would definitely be on the shortlist.

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  11. I pulled my ice cream maker out about a month ago and can't get it put away. Every time I think it is safe to take it back to the storage room another great ice cream recipe appears. I can't wait to try this one!!

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    1. Wendy, I never put my ice cream maker away. The churning bowl has permanent residence in my freezer now, so it is ready to whip up a fresh batch of ice cream at a moments notice. Hope you enjoy this one.

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  12. I feel like I almost selected this recipe when I had Becky's blog! Glad to know it's incredible. I'll definitely have to give it a try - I seem to always have too much buttermilk in my fridge.

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    1. Well, funnily enough Lauren, buttermilk is something I very rarely have in my fridge, but I think that could be about to change. I think I'll always be keeping some on hand for whipping up a batch of ice cream from now on.

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  13. This recipe looks absolutely gorgeous!

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  14. I've got a strawberry version of this chilling in the fridge right now. Thanks for the inspiration.

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