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Cantaloupe Grappa Semifreddo

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Photo by Romulo Yanes

A semifreddo is an Italian soft-frozen custard mousse. Grappa, which is floral and just a little edgy, bumps the musky, intoxicating sweetness of the melon up a notch.

Cooks' note:

semifreddo keeps 1 week.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    4 hr

  • Yield

    Makes 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients

1 pound peeled chopped cantaloupe (about 2 1/2 cups)
1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, divided
1/4 cup grappa (preferably grappa di Moscato d'Asti)
3/4 teaspoon grenadine (for color; optional)
1/8 teaspoon salt
5 large egg yolks
3/4 cup heavy cream
Equipment: a 9- by 5- by 3-inch loaf pan; 2 large (6-quart) bowls (one of them metal); a handheld electric mixer

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Line loaf pan with plastic wrap, leaving an overhang at each end. Purée melon with 1/3 cup sugar, grappa, grenadine (if using), and salt in a blender until smooth. Transfer to large metal bowl and stir in yolks. Set bowl over a saucepan of simmering water and beat with mixer until pale, thick, and tripled in volume and registers 170°F on an instant-read thermometer, about 8 minutes.

    Step 2

    Remove bowl from saucepan and set in a large ice bath. Continue to beat until cold, about 6 minutes.

    Step 3

    Beat cream with remaining 2 tablespoons sugar in other large bowl using cleaned beaters until it just holds soft peaks. Fold whipped cream into cantaloupe mixture gently but thoroughly.

    Step 4

    Pour mixture into pan and freeze, loosely covered with plastic wrap, until firm, at least 5 hours. Uncover top and invert semifreddo onto a plate.

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