The Science of Spice

170 Spice Profiles

This recipe blends three spices to create a

creamy, subtly aromatic ice cream that is

flavoursome and not too sweet. Its nutty, toasted-

sesame taste is enhanced by a hint of liquorice

and floral cardamom. Adding alcohol makes the

ice cream softer straight from the freezer, but

you can omit it if you prefer.

BLACK SESAME,

LIQUORICE, AND

CARDAMOM ICE CREAM

1

Toast the sesame seeds in a dry frying pan over a medium heat

for about 5 minutes, then leave to cool.

2

Using a spice grinder or small food processor, grind the seeds

until they form a powdery paste – this will take about 1 minute.

3

In a large bowl, whip the double cream until it forms soft peaks.

Set aside.

4

In another bowl, beat together the yogurt, condensed milk,

ground cardamom, liquorice powder, and sesame paste. Gently

fold this mixture into the cream. Stir in the alcohol, if using.

5

Pour the mixture into an ice-cream maker and churn according

to the instructions. Transfer the ice cream to a freezerproof

container and freeze until ready to serve. Alternatively, pour the

mixture into a freezerproof container and freeze for 3–4 hours,

stirring at regular intervals to break up the ice crystals and ensure

a smooth ice cream.

Serves 4

Prep time 20 mins

Freezing time 20–30 mins

in ice-cream maker

(remember to pre-freeze the

bowl, if applicable); 3–4

hours minimum in freezer

3 heaped tbsp black sesame seeds

300ml (10fl oz) double cream

300ml (10fl oz) Greek yogurt

300ml (10fl oz) condensed milk

seeds of 30 cardamom pods, ground

11/2 tsp liquorice root powder

11/2 tbsp white rum or other lightly

flavoured spirit (optional)

SPICE

IDEAS

Use white sesame

seeds instead of black

for less bitterness, and

leave untoasted to

allow honeyed, more

floral flavours to gain

greater prominence.

Replace a proportion

of sesame seeds with

wattle to bring in

notes of chocolate and

wood smoke.

Pick up on leafy green

hexanal in sesame and

eucalyptus-like cineole

in cardamom by using

ground bay leaves in

place of liquorice.

170-171_Recipe_Black_Sesame_Ice_Cream.indd 170 04/06/2018 15:49