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Avocado Ice Cream

I had a sheltered life growing up in staid New England and never tasted an avocado until I was a teenager and took my first trip to California. There I was served a salad loaded with chunks of avocado, squishy, pale, and icky green. I tried to spear the offending slices to get them off my plate, but they resisted my persistent jabs and kept eluding my grasp. Now I realize that those luscious tidbits were trying to tell me something, and I regret the loss of so many avocados that I could have loved. If you’re hesitant to try avocado ice cream, let my foolhardy prejudice be a lesson to you. The best avocados are the pebbly-skinned Hass variety. When ripe and ready, the flesh should give just a little when pressed. And be sure to try the Avocado Licuado con Leche in the Perfect Pairing at the end of the recipe. It is unbelievably delicious.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes 1 quart (1 liter)

Ingredients

3 medium-sized ripe Hass avocados (about 1 1/2 pounds, 675 g)
3/4 cup (150 g) sugar
1 cup (240 g) sour cream
1/2 cup (125 ml) heavy cream
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
Big pinch of salt

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Slice the avocados in half and pluck out the pits. Scoop out the flesh with a spoon and cut it into little pieces.

    Step 2

    Purée the avocado pieces in a blender or food processor with the sugar, sour cream, heavy cream, lime juice, and salt until smooth and the sugar is dissolved.

    Step 3

    Freeze immediately in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

  2. Perfect Pairing

    Step 4

    A great summertime refresher is Avocado Licuado con Leche (or batido) milkshakes, popular in South and Central America. For each serving, put 2 scoops (4 ounces, 115 g) of Avocado Ice Cream in a blender along with 1/2 cup (125 ml) milk, 2 teaspoons sugar, 3 ice cubes, and a squirt of freshly squeezed lime juice. Blend until smooth, then pour into a glass. A shot of espresso can be added as well.

The Perfect Scoop
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