Watermelon and Vodka Sorbet
This recipe was inspired by my student days; vodka watermelons were very popular around that time and we spent days force funnelling the things until they were suitably saturated with the cheapest liquor we could find. A supermarket ‘basics’ brand or Glen’s being our budget poison of choice.
My tastes are a little more sophisticated nowadays (I said a little) and I’d like to tell you nothing but the finest went into this recipe but the truth is that the end of a bottle of Smirnoff was languishing so I used that. The vodka flavour wasn’t exactly pronounced though so my advice is as follows: get yourself a decent bottle then add a wee slosh on top of the sorbet in the bowl. Total refreshment, with a punch. Phwoar.
Watermelon and Vodka Sorbet
1.2 kg watermelon (that’s how much mine weighed after I’d removed skin and seeds)
3 tablespoons lime juice
200g caster sugar
3 tablespoons vodka, plus extra to serve
A few slivers of mint leaf, to serve (optional)
Cut the watermelon into wedges and remove the flesh from the skin with a knife. Chop into large slices and do your best to remove the seeds (the mixture will be passed through a sieve later so don’t worry about a few stragglers).
Put the watermelon chunks in a blender with the sugar and lime juice and blend to a liquid. Now pass it through the sieve into a bowl. Try to push as much of the melon pulp through as possible, not just the liquid. Churn the mixture in an ice cream machine until sorbet-like. Mine took about 20 minutes but my watermelon was well chilled, it could take half an hour.
To serve, let it rest out of the freezer for a good 10 to 15 minutes, otherwise it will just break up like a granita when you try and scoop it. Dribble a little vodka into the bowl and scatter on the mint, if using.
Category: Ice Cream | Tags: melon sorbet recipe, watermelon and vodka sorbet recipe, watermelon sorbet recipe 9 comments »
May 12th, 2011 at 12:21 pm
I have an obsession with watermelons, especially when I’m hungover.
Though I don’t know how well this would go down when feeling rotten, I’m pretty positive any other time I would scoff it RIGHT DOWN.
May 12th, 2011 at 1:34 pm
Fantastic twist on a student favourite. Great idea. Phwoar indeed.
May 12th, 2011 at 3:02 pm
What ice cream maker do you use Helen?
Would you recommend it?
D
May 12th, 2011 at 3:04 pm
Lizzie – Yes I would suggest leaving that voddy out if you’re hungover. OR, hair of the dog?
Sally – PHWOAR!!
David – I’ve got a post coming up about that so you’ll have to wait
May 13th, 2011 at 7:43 am
Glen’s vodka…I’d completely forgotten about that – takes me right back to my student days! Reckon it would be really nice and refreshing as a more granita-like drink too. Phwoar indeed.
May 13th, 2011 at 9:37 am
Thanks Helen.
I’ve got the Caroline and Robin Weir bible on “Ice Creams, Sorbets and Gelati” so alls I needs is a machine!
D
May 14th, 2011 at 9:31 am
This looks really good fun! I made some Moscow Mule jellies for a dinner party a while back but I reckon after seeing this I should have sorbeted (is that even a word) instead :^D
May 14th, 2011 at 4:04 pm
Oooh – summery refreshment in a bowl. Not sure I can justify the kitchen space for an ice cream maker, but it’s sorely tempting…
May 17th, 2011 at 6:29 pm
oh my god- this is like a watermelon martini in a bowl- with a spoon! loves. x shayma