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Concord Grape Sorbet

We had Concords growing in the backyard when I was a kid, but I didn’t like them. They were just too strong for my young palate. But I came to love this flavor and now I wait all year for the grapes to be in season so I can make this sorbet. It’s my favorite thing to do with Concords. I always serve this sorbet on its own—pure and simple.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes about 1 1/2 quarts

Ingredients

3/4 cup (180g) water
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons (125g) sugar
2/3 cup (190g) light corn syrup
3 1/2 pounds (1588g) Concord grapes
Juice of half a lemon
1/2 teaspoon citric acid

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Set up an ice bath in a large bowl.

    Step 2

    Put the water, sugar, and corn syrup in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Mix with an immersion blender. Pour into a medium bowl and set into the ice bath to chill down completely.

    Step 3

    Stem the grapes and put them through a juicer.

    Step 4

    Strain the juice and measure out 3 1/3 cups. Add to the syrup with the lemon juice and citric acid.

    Step 5

    Freeze immediately in an ice cream maker. Pack into a plastic container and freeze for at least 2 hours before serving.

Reprinted with permission from Dessert Fourplay: Sweet Quartets from a Four-Star Pastry Chef by Johnny Iuzzini and Roy Finamore. Copyright © 2008 by Johnny Iuzzini and Roy Finamore. Published by Crown Publishing. All Rights Reserved. Johnny Iuzzini,, executive pastry chef of the world-renowned Jean Georges restaurant in New York City, won the award for Outstanding Pastry Chef from the James Beard Foundation in 2006. This is his first book. Roy Finamore, a publishing veteran of more than thirty years, has worked with many bestselling cookbook authors. He is the author of three books: One Potato, Two Potato; Tasty, which won a James Beard Foundation award; and Fish Without a Doubt.__
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