Mango Sherbet with Candied Habanero Peppers
Mango is such a rich, almost creamy fruit that works incredibly with hot chili peppers. Mango salsa, mango chutney, Trader Joe’s Chili-Spiced Dried Mangoes… I’m a big fan of all of these so pairing mangoes and habaneros in ice cream didn’t seem too crazy.
I found a simple recipe for mango sherbet in a South American cookbook. I liked the idea of sherbet (fruit puree with some cream) because I try to avoid making custard for time and fat reasons, but sorbet wouldn’t have had any cream to counter the heat of the habs. Sherbet was the perfect solution.
The candied habaneros are good, but I prefer my ice cream without interruption, ie. crunchy bits. If you like toppings, go with the candied pepper pieces. Personally I liked the sherbet better with the spicy syrup that was left over from making the candy.
Either way, habaneros are plenty spicy, but they have a fruity flavor that is nice with mango. The heat hits after the initial cool of the sherbet, so the best remedy is another bite of creamy, icy mango. Continue reading »