Much as I’ve loved this late and lurid winter we’re having in DC, I’m off to warmer weather. In an attempt to transport you to the places where people wear shorts and sip margaritas beachside this time of year, I thought I’d share with you a recipe for a refreshing sorbet. Personally, I’d eat this regardless of freezing temperatures so long as there’s a bathrobe and space heater nearby, am I right?!
While you might not be ready for this chilly concoction just yet, you should definitely bookmark the recipe or print it because blood oranges and ginger are two superfoods you don’t want to miss out on. Blood oranges are high in vitamin C, potassium, dietary fiber, carotenoids, and polyphenols like your standard oranges, and also have the added benefit of anthocyanins–powerful antioxidants which fight disease and inflammation. Ginger, one of my all-time favorite superfoods, is widely used to treat nausea, flatulence,stomach upset, and morning sickness. Ginger has also been linked to relieving the symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections, bronchitis, coughs, menstrual cramps, arthritis, and muscle pain. This super-root is as close to a homeopathic panacea as I’ve seen.
Blood Orange and Ginger Sorbet
Ingredients:
- 4 pounds blood oranges or other oranges
- 1 1/4 cups water
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 ½ Tbs orange zest
- 1 Tbs grated ginger
- Juice of one Meyer lemon
Directions:
- Finely grate the zest of two oranges, 1 lemon, and about 1½” of peeled, fresh ginger root.
- Combine 1 1/4 cups water, sugar, zest and ginger in heavy medium saucepan. Stir over high heat until sugar dissolves and syrup boils; remove syrup from heat to cool.
- Peel oranges and remove all pith, strings, and seeds. Transfer oranges and lemon juice to a blender or food processor; puree until smooth, about 30 seconds. Measure 4 cups orange puree and mix into orange-lemon-ginger syrup (reserve any remaining puree for another use—hello bold an beautiful smoothies!).
- Cover orange mixture and refrigerate for at least 6 hours and up to 1 day to blend flavors.
- Process orange mixture in ice cream maker according to manufacturer’s instructions. Transfer to a container, cover, and freeze.
- Eat within a week for best results.