Fresh elderflower syrup and elderflower sorbet are an elegant treat, with a delicate flavor and fragrance. If you’re lucky enough to have fresh elderflowers, give this recipe a try.
If you are the type that tends to feel nauseous from strong flavors and smells, then the light delicate quality of this sorbet should be more welcoming for you than our lemon sorbet or watermelon sorbet recipes.
The instructions here are for making it by hand without an ice-cream maker, but if you do have an ice-cream maker this will make the process even easier (just follow your appliance instructions).
As with all the recipes on this website, this elderflower sorbet is suitable to enjoy on a clear liquid diet when preparing for colonoscopy.
Fresh Elderflower Sorbet
Cooking Time: 45 minutes + cooling and freezing time (6+ hours)
Serves: 6-8
Ingredients:
- 20 heads of elderflower, stems removed
- 2.25 cups water
- 1.5 cups white sugar (caster or superfine)
- 2 lemons, halved and juiced
Instructions:
- In a large saucepan, combine the sugar, water, lemon juice, lemon halves and elderflowers.
- Bring to a gentle simmer, then remove from heat.
- Cover and set aside for several hours (1-5hr) to allow the mixture to infuse, and to allow the sugar to dissolve.
- Into a pan or bowl, strain the elderflower syrup through a huge sieve lined with muslin cloth. Discard or compose the flower heads and lemon halves.
- Place syrup into a sturdy, freezer-safe container and freeze undisturbed for 1 hour 30 minutes.
- Remove from freezer, and whisk the sorbet syrup to break it up and incorporate any ice crystals that have formed at the edges. Return to freezer.
- Freeze for 4 hours, continuing to mix the sorbet once an hour to break up the ice crystals. Mixing will progressively become more difficult as the sorbet solidifies, but it is a necessary step to get a nice, light texture. An ice-cream maker will make this step easier, but is not required.
- When the mixture is firm but scoop-able, stop mixing.
- Serve immediately, or transfer into a freezer-safe container for storage.
Nutritional info: Calories: 122cal, protein: 0g, carbohydrate: 31g, Fat: 0g
