raw ice cream
Raw ice cream is a version of the classic dessert made without cooking the ingredients. This is often done to accommodate a raw or vegan diet where normal methods of making ice cream, along with standard ingredients, are outside the realm of permitted foods. There are two common ways to make raw ice cream: the first relies on water or another liquid to freeze to create the solid, frozen texture for the other ingredients. The second method uses a blender or food processor to essentially blend frozen fruit, like bananas, into something with the consistency of ice cream. Processed sugars and sweeteners are typically not added to raw ice cream, and are instead replaced with items like maple syrup, nectars, or sweet fruits like dates.
An ice cream maker can be used to make raw ice cream.
The first method of creating raw ice cream actually resembles the process used to make water ice cream. Ingredients like berries and other fruit are combined with a small amount of water and mashed or blended in a food processor. A natural sweetener such as agave nectar, beet root, or maple syrup is mixed into the water along with any additional flavoring. The mixture is placed in a container, covered or sealed, and placed in the freezer, regularly stirring the contents to prevent a solid block of ice from forming. The end result is a container filled with semi-soft raw ice cream that can be served as a sorbet, although it tends to melt quickly.
The second method of making raw ice cream produces a result that is more like traditional ice cream and uses frozen bananas or other starchy fruits. Bananas are cut into slices and frozen for a few hours. They are then placed in a blender or food processor and blended into a paste. Once the paste is formed, ingredients such as sweeteners, diced fruit or cocoa powder can be added. The mixture is then blended in a food processor until enough air is incorporated into the paste to make it light, fluffy, and creamy.
Regardless of the method used to make raw ice cream, once it has been placed in the freezer it is important that the mixture does not harden without first being shaken several times. This means stirring the mixture, shaking the container vigorously, using an ice cream maker, or scraping the mixture to create loose ice crystals. If this is not done regularly until the raw ice cream is ready, the result will be a solid block that will be very difficult to remove and serve frozen.