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Chocolate Gelato

17/11/2023

Preparing homemade chocolate gelato is a delight for lovers of this creamy and cold dessert. Here is a simple and delicious recipe:

Ingredients

  • 250 ml of whole milk
  • 250 ml of fresh cream
  • 150 g of granulated sugar
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 200 g of high-quality dark chocolate
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract (optional)

Preparation

  1. Heat the milk and cream: In a large saucepan, mix the cream with the milk and heat over medium heat until it almost starts to boil.

  2. Melt the chocolate: In the meantime, break the dark chocolate into pieces and melt it in a double boiler or in the microwave, making sure to stir often to prevent burning.

  3. Prepare the egg yolk and sugar mixture: In a bowl, beat the egg yolks with the sugar until a light and foamy mixture is obtained.

  4. Temper the egg mixture: Take some of the hot milk and cream and pour it slowly over the egg yolk and sugar mixture, stirring constantly to temper the eggs and not cook them suddenly.

  5. Combine the ingredients: Pour the tempered egg and sugar mixture into the saucepan with the rest of the milk and cream. Add the melted chocolate and vanilla extract if you want an extra aromatic note.

  6. Cook the gelato base: Return the saucepan to heat and cook on a low flame, stirring always until the mixture thickens slightly. To know when it’s ready, run your finger along the back of a spoon dipped in the mixture; if it leaves a clear trace, it’s ready.

  7. Cool the mixture: Remove the mixture from the heat and let it cool completely. To speed up the cooling, you can pour the mixture into a bowl and place it in a larger one filled with ice and water, stirring occasionally.

  8. Churn the gelato: Once cooled, transfer the mixture to an ice cream maker and churn following the manufacturer’s instructions. If you do not have an ice cream maker, you can place the mixture in a container suitable for the freezer and stir it every 30-45 minutes to break the ice crystals.

  9. Freeze: After churning, put the gelato in a container with a lid and freeze it for at least 2-3 hours before serving.

Curiosity

Gelato is one of the most appreciated culinary inventions in the world. Although its origins are uncertain, some historians believe that primitive forms of gelato were already enjoyed in ancient China. In Italy, the city of Florence is often cited as the cradle of modern gelato, and the figure of Bernardo Buontalenti is famous for having created an early version in the 16th century.

Chocolate Gelato