How to Make Sorbet
The first thing you need to do is make your basic syrup. This is done by boiling your water and adding to it your salt and sugar. Then stir for five minutes. Let it cool and you are done. You have your syrup.
Next you need to get your fruit and chop it up ready to go in the a blender or food processor.
You don’t have to blend up your fruit you can mash it up by hand or you can chop it very finely. Personally I think its best to do both, that way the flavour will be spread through your sorbet yet you will have chunks to chew on.
You can stop your fruit from going brown by covering it lightly with some lemon juice.
Now you start to mix your basic syrup with your fruit NOT the other way round. You taste as you go so that you don’t put in too much syrup. It may be that you need it all but you can’t have too much fruit – you can have too much syrup.
Handy Tip: Once your sorbet is frozen the tongue will not be able to taste as much as when it is at room temperature, so make sure it is extra tasty before you freeze it. Something that tastes “too much” may taste perfect when frozen.
Chill your mixture for several hours and then put into your sorbet maker. This step should be done as to the requirements of your sorbet maker. Many sorbet makers have different settings and work in slightly different ways so always consult your instructions rather than follow a recipe at this point.
If you do not use a sorbet maker then you will need to put your mixture in the freezer and stir it atleast hourly so prevent big ice crystals from forming. Your sorbet is ready when it is at the consistency you want.
Typical Proportions for a basic sorbet recipe:
Four parts fresh fruit – Whatever you like – go mad!
One Part Sugar
One Part Water
Lemon Juice to taste
And a Pinch of Salt!
With this basic recipe you can throw almost anything into your sorbet maker and have a lucious dessert anytime.