Fresh Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

I was lucky enough to visit the stunning One&Only Palmilla for work a few weeks ago. It's such a beautiful spot, and the food is really incredible. We peeked into the kitchen at Market one afternoon and saw Sean, the pastry chef, create this beautiful dessert that consisted of mint ice cream, made that morning with mint picked in the herb garden, topped with dehydrated chocolate mousse, these pretty flowers, and some chocolate shavings. Basically, the fanciest mint chocolate chip ice cream around. It was amazing.

I've been dreaming about it. It inspired me to make my own fresh mint chocolate chip ice cream. I used this recipe from Isaac Mizrahi on Epicurious. Yum! It has a completely different flavor than store bought mint chocolate chip ice cream, more akin to a mojito. It's such a treat, and if you have an ice cream maker, I highly recommend it. Also, the chocolate chunks can be as big and as good a brand of chocolate as you want.

Ingredients:

6 lark egg yolks

3/4 cups sugar

2 cups whole milk

2 cups fresh mint leaves, loosely packed

1 cup heavy cream

4 oz semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

4 oz bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped (I used Cote d'Or 86% - I looove Cote d'Or)

Directions:

Whisk the egg yolks and 1/2 cup sugar in a large bowl. In a sauce pan, stir milk, remaining sugar, and mint over low heat. Stir to dissolve sugar and heat gently until steaming (don't let it boil). Turn off the heat.

Ladle 1/2 cup of the milk into the eggs, whisking the whole time. Slowly pour the egg mixture into the sauce pa, whisking continuously so the eggs don't scramble. Turn the heat onto medium low and cook, stirring continuously, until the mixture coats the back of the spoon. Do not let it boil. (You should be able to run your finger through the mixture to leave a clean line.)

Pour the mixture into a bowl though a fine mesh sieve and refrigerate 6 hours or overnight.

Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker and let it churn for half an hour.

Add the chocolate chunks for the last minute until combined. Put into a container and put in the freezer for a couple hours to harden.