Strarberry Lime Basil Sorbet

I got a bunch of strawberries, limes, and basil in my Trader Joe's pickup this week (I pickup food for a local food pantry and they let me keep some for myself). It's been pretty hot here in Boston lately, and I've got book group coming up on sunday, so I figured I'd bust out the ice cream maker and whip up some sorbet.

1 1/2 cup water

3/4 cup sugar

1 bunch basil divided

4 cups strawberries, hulled and chopped

1/2 cup lime juice

zest of 1 lime

combine water, sugar and half of the basil in a saucepan and heat until the sugar dissolves. let it sit until the liquid cools

once the liquid cools, put the strawberries, lime juice, lime zest, and the other half of the basil cut into small strips (aka chiffonade) into a blender and puree. Cool the mixture and then follow your ice cream maker's directions.

My new obsession.....sorbet!

I got an ice cream maker, and I've been all about making sorbet. It's super easy.

I just made straberry-basil sorbet, starting with Jamie Oliver's recipe

2/3 cup (160 ml) water
2/3 cup (135 grams) granulated white sugar
5 cups or 2 pounds (1 kg) fresh or frozen unsweetened strawberries
2 tablespoons lemon juice

You make a simple syrup out of the water and sugar over the stove. I added a bunch of basil when cooking it down. You puree the strawberries, add the lemon juice, then throw it all in the ice cream maker.

I also made a blackberry mint sorbet. Swap out the strawberries for blackberries, add mint to the simple syrup instead of basil, and follow the rest of the instructions.

I tried making a honey ice cream, but I need to get better at making the custard base.