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Eighty degrees in Southern California, and in protest of the anpoti-winter weather, I decided to break out the ice cream maker…in February…for sorbet! And since Chinese New Year is upon us, I thought I’d infuse the flavors and colors of the culture while sharing with my kids why we were making Pomegranate Lychee Sorbet (and what a Lychee is!).
My kids know a bit about culture from the stories I’ve shared about our own heritage, and one of the easiest ways to bridge the gap is to talk about the way we are unique, often evident in the foods we eat. Chinese New Year is the longest and most important celebration and marks the turn of the Chinese calendar. Traditional celebrations include an expansive New Year’s Eve Reunion Dinner with dishes often thought to bring prosperity. And while traditions vary within the regions of China, the wearing and displaying of red is thought to bring wealth and good fortune.
Since food is such an integral component of Chinese New Year celebrations, I thought I’d use a fruit native to China…the lychee! This rare, subtropical fruit is an important part of Chinese culture and features a sweet, delicate flavor, most similar to the grape. Lychees are rich in Vitamin C and Potassium amongst other vitamins and minerals and are also a good source of fiber. In Ancient Chinese culture, this fruit is hailed for it’s potential health benefits.
Because lychees require tropical environments to grow, it is a rarity to see fresh versions in conventional markets. More common are canned varieties that still offer a comparable flavor and nutrient profile.
While lychees can be enjoyed on their own, I wanted to give some color and diversity to my sorbet by adding one of our favorite fruits…the pomegranate! The addition of fresh lime also helped balance the sweet and sour notes in this sorbet. With just a few simple ingredients and an ice cream maker, you too can have fresh Pomegranate Lychee Sorbet in about 1 hour.
- 2 cans of whole lychees drained
- 1/4 cup simple syrup
- 1 16- ounce bottle of pomegranate juice
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1 egg white
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Using a food processor, puree lychees with simple syrup, pomegranate juice, and lime
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Strain mixture
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Fold in egg white by hand
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Run mixture through your ice cream maker per the manufacturer's instructions
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Top with pomegranate arils, if desired
I’ve only had lychees a handful of times, the most prominent being a dessert showcasing this exotic fruit during Buick’s Discovery Tour, where luxury vehicles and gourmet chefs converge. After doing a bit of research, I discovered that lychees have been paired with a wide variety of different fruits and flavors including mangoes, strawberries, and even ginger. I opted for pomegranate because it’s one of my kids’ latest favorite flavors and I knew that offering something familiar with something unfamiliar would make it more compelling for them to at least sample the sorbet. The combination of sweet and savory flavors made for a refreshing dessert that my kids, in particular, really enjoyed.
As I mentioned in the recipe, you’ll want to strain the mixture before running it through the ice maker because lychees contain a significant amount of pulp that likely won’t puree with a blender or food processor. This particular recipe uses an egg white for a creamier sorbet, however, I recommend using eggs that have been pasteurized like Safest Choice. This sorbet is best (and at its creamiest) when consumed right after it’s been mixed in the ice cream maker.
One other important thing to note is that I used a simple syrup, which is standard when making sorbet. Simple dissolve caster sugar in water at a 1:1 ratio over medium heat. Sugar, while assumed to sweeten the sorbet, actually has scientific significance in that it lowers the freezing point, resulting in a sorbet that in theory, won’t freeze solid. To read more about this phenomenon and glean tips on making the perfect sorbet, I recommend reading Serious Eats’ article on The Science of the Best Sorbet.
Looking for additional Chinese New Year Recipes? Check out these inspired ideas from my fellow Walmart Moms:
Chinese New Year Almond Cookies
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