I have experimented with a couple varieties of iced cream this summer. And this one was the most popular. It has just the right amount of sweetness with a touch of heat.
The "Urfa Biber" is a unique pepper indigenous to the Urfa region of Turkey. Also known as an
"Isot Pepper," is much like a bell pepper, but with heat. Which is picked when ripe, and then processed by being sun dried during the day and goes through a sweating process at night. This process is anywhere from 4 - 12 days, and determines the heat and colour of the peppers. It can range anywhere from dark red to a dark purple in colour. If you can find this pepper, you are in for a major treat. It's described as sweet, like sundried tomato, vanilla, chocolate, & cherry with a hint of tobacco. And pairs well with savoury or sweet dishes.
It is truly an amazing pepper.
Honey Caramel Urfa Biber Iced Cream
Ingredients
1 vanilla bean or 2 tsp of vanilla extract
1 tbs Urfa Biber {Turkish pepper}
1/2 cup cane sugar
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup water
2 cups whipping cream
1 cup whole milk
7 large egg yolks
Instructions
1) Add sugar, honey and 1/4 cup water to a sauce pan and stir over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves.
2) Increase heat and boil without stirring until syrup turns deep amber color, occasionally brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush and swirling pan, about 8 minutes. ~Remove from heat. Add in the whipping cream, Urfa biber and vanilla (mixture will bubble vigorously).
3) Stir over low heat until any caramel bits dissolve, about 4 minutes.
4) Add milk; bring to simmer.
5) Whisk yolks in large bowl to blend.
6) Gradually whisk caramel mixture into yolks.
7) Return custard to saucepan and stir over medium-low heat until custard thickens and leaves path on spoon when finger is drawn across, about 5 minutes (do not boil).
8) Strain custard into large bowl; refrigerate until cold.
9) Process custard in ice cream maker according to manufacturer’s instructions.
10)Transfer ice cream to covered container and freeze until firm.
special note:
I found the Urfa Biber at the Silk Road Spice Merchants In Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
http://www.silkroadspices.ca/products/urfa-biber
