Pistachio, Strawberry, and Vanilla Semifreddo

By LRay

Recipes + Menus | recipes

Pistachio, Strawberry, and Vanilla Semifreddo
Got eggs, sugar, and cream? Then you can make a striking Italian semifreddo. It's the lushest and creamiest of frozen desserts—no ice cream maker required.

serves 10

Recipe by Gina Marie Miraglia Eriquez

Photograph by Romulo Yanes

June 2011

Ingredients

• 1 1
• cup
• shelled unsalted pistachios
• 4 4
• tablespoons
• sugar, divided, plus 1/2 cup
• 1 1
• cup
• whole milk, divided
• 1/4 1/4
• teaspoon
• almond extract
• 1 1
• vanilla bean, halved lengthwise
• 1 1
• cup
• fresh strawberries (about 4 ounces), hulled, halved
• 1 1
• teaspoon
• vanilla extract
• 2 2
• large eggs, at room temperature
• 1/4 1/4
• teaspoon
• kosher salt
• 1 1/3 1 1/3
• cups
• chilled heavy whipping cream

Details

Servings 10
Adapted from bonappetit.com

Preparation

Step 1

Preparation

Line a metal loaf pan (approximately 9x5x3") with 2 layers of plastic wrap, leaving generous overhang on all sides.

Grind pistachios and 2 tablespoons sugar in a food processor until very finely chopped. Transfer pistachio mixture to a small saucepan. Add 1/2 cup milk; bring to a boil. Remove from heat, cover, and let steep for 20 minutes. Set a fine-mesh strainer over a medium bowl; strain, discarding solids. Stir in almond extract; set pistachio mixture aside.

Place remaining 1/2 cup milk in a separate small saucepan. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean and bring to a simmer. Remove from heat, cover, and let steep for 15 minutes. Set a strainer over another medium bowl; strain, discarding solids, and chill vanilla mixture.

Purée strawberries and 2 Tbsp. sugar in a food processor until smooth. Set a fine-mesh strainer over another medium bowl; strain, pressing on solids to extract as much juice as possible. Discard solids. Stir in vanilla extract and set strawberry mixture aside.

Whisk eggs, salt, and remaining 1/2 cup sugar in a medium metal bowl. Set bowl over a medium saucepan of simmering water (do not allow bottom of bowl to touch water). Beat egg mixture at high speed until it triples in volume and an instant-read thermometer inserted into mixture registers 170°, about 3 minutes. Remove bowl from over water and continue beating until thick and cool, about 3 minutes. Add one-third of egg mixture to each of the pistachio, strawberry, and vanilla mixtures; fold each just to blend.

Beat cream in a large bowl until soft peaks form. Add one-third of cream to each of the pistachio, strawberry, and vanilla mixtures; fold each just to blend. Cover vanilla and strawberry mixtures separately; chill. Pour pistachio mixture into pan; smooth top. Cover; freeze until firm, about 45 minutes. Gently pour strawberry mixture over pistachio layer; smooth top. Freeze until firm, about 45 minutes. Gently fold vanilla mixture to blend; pour over and smooth top. Freeze until firm, about 4 hours. DO AHEAD Can be made 3 days ahead. Fold plastic wrap over; seal tightly and keep frozen.

Uncover semifreddo. Using plastic wrap as an aid, lift from mold. Invert onto a chilled platter; peel off plastic. Slice crosswise.

Hungry for More? If you have a question about this recipe, contact our Test Kitchen at [e-mail]. To see more recipes like this one, check out our Frozen Desserts Slideshow.