Cherokee Purple Heirloom Tomato Sorbet Recipe

Name: Cherokee Purple Heirloom Tomato Sorbet
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 2 cups water; 1/3 cup 2 T cane sugar; 2 1/2 teaspoons sea salt; 2 garlic cloves, smashed with the flat side of a large knife; 5-6 sweet basil leaves or you can also use green shiso (if using shiso, you can use a few less); 2 1 1/2 - 2 inch strips of lemon peel (not pith) using a vegetable peeler; 2 Cherokee Purple Heirloom tomatoes, cored, cut into wedges and chopped; 1 German Pink Heirloom tomato, cored, cut into wedges and chopped (for a total of 4 1/2 cups of chopped tomato); 8 sweet basil leaves or you can use green shiso (if using green shiso you can use a few less); 1/4 cup Meyer lemon juice (I used one juicy Meyer lemon)

Servings: persons

2 cups water
1/3 cup 2 T cane sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
2 garlic cloves, smashed with the flat side of a large knife
5-6 sweet basil leaves or you can also use green shiso (if using shiso, you can use a few less)
2 1 1/2 - 2 inch strips of lemon peel (not pith) using a vegetable peeler
2 Cherokee Purple Heirloom tomatoes, cored, cut into wedges and chopped
1 German Pink Heirloom tomato, cored, cut into wedges and chopped (for a total of 4 1/2 cups of chopped tomato)
8 sweet basil leaves or you can use green shiso (if using green shiso you can use a few less)
1/4 cup Meyer lemon juice (I used one juicy Meyer lemon)

1
Make syrup one day ahead: Bring water, sugar and salt to a boil in a small saucepan; cook, stirring, until sugar and salt are thoroughly dissolved. Place garlic, basil (or shiso) leaves, and lemon peel strips in a glass bowl or 2-cup Pyrex measure; carefully add hot syrup. Allow mixture to cool, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
2
When you are ready to make sorbet, tightly roll and then thinly slice basil (or shiso) leaves crosswise. Juice meyer lemon over leaves to prevent discoloration. In a blender, combine chopped tomatoes and chilled syrup. Puree until combined. Stir in basil (shiso) chiffonade and lemon juice. Transfer mixture to ice cream maker and proceed according to manufacturer's instructions. After 40 minutes in my machine this sorbet was soft; freeze for another hour for firmer texture.
3
For a vegetarian Bloody Mary Martini, combine 1 1/2 ounces chilled vodka of choice, two tablespoons of Cherokee Purple Sorbet and a splash of Tabasco. Yum!
4
Note: When the sorbet finished in my ice cream maker, I discovered a happy accident. Perhaps because I chose not to strain the tomato mixture after blending, the pulp separated from the rest of the sorbet, leaving luscious purple-red sorbet with green basil ribbons in the center of the bowl and white sorbet (almost like the salt plus tomato water) around the edges (see photos). You can mix it all together or keep it separate for color contrast; the best part is that even the white sorbet has amazing tomato flavor.

243

kcal

Calories

Fat

Carbs

Protein

Fat Carbs Protein

* Per serving · 4 servings · Values may vary.

Tips for the best results

Read through all the steps once before you start and measure out your ingredients first — it makes everything go more smoothly.
Preheat the oven fully and bake on the middle rack for the most even results.
Check for doneness a few minutes early — a toothpick in the center should come out with just a few moist crumbs.
Let it cool before slicing so it sets properly and holds its shape.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy within a few days.

Variations & substitutions

Brown sugar instead of white sugar adds a deeper, more caramel-like flavor.

No specific allergen information. Please check the ingredient list for possible allergens.

My Personal Notes

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This recipe makes 4 servings. You can adjust the portion size directly on this page.

You need 10 ingredients. The key ingredients include: 2 cups water, 1/3 cup 2 T cane sugar, 2 1/2 teaspoons sea salt, 2 garlic cloves, smashed with the flat side of a large knife, and more.

Yes, Cherokee Purple Heirloom Tomato Sorbet falls under the Baking & Desserts category and is a great choice for this type of meal.

Keep frozen in an airtight container for up to 1–2 months. Let it soften for a few minutes before serving.

That's it — enjoy your meal!

Cherokee Purple Heirloom Tomato Sorbet

Tips for the best results

Variations & substitutions

My Personal Notes

How did you like this recipe?

Frequently Asked Questions