At this time of year, I can practically hear my ice cream freezer banging at the walls of its box, trying to get out and sending "use me" vibes in my direction. While it's always time for ice cream for many people, it's an essential part of summer. Everyone can enjoy it now, too, with shops like Milkjam Creamery in Minneapolis, with brothers Sameh and Saed Wadi offering scoops for lactose-intolerant and vegan ice cream lovers.
If you're interested in making your own ice cream, I urge you to remember that ice cream doesn't only have to be a sweet treat to enjoy on a hot afternoon or as dessert. Look to your garden — yes, the garden — for inspiration and you'll have the makings of a surprising appetizer or palate cleanser. How do tangy mustard, roasted tomato and Parmesan or basil ice cream sound to you?
Here are three ice cream recipes for you to try and easy introductions to savory ice cream. All of these invite delicious garnishes or salad accompaniments to take further advantage of all that great summer produce.
For a great summer lunch or dinner party starter, try chilled gazpacho soup with mustard ice cream. Traditional gazpacho is Spanish in origin and is generally a smooth, puréed soup. I prefer a chunkier style like this one from Ina Garten. For this recipe, use the freshest garden produce you can find. I usually use a mix of heirloom tomatoes (their different colors make a beautiful soup), but other tomatoes work well, too. If you have particularly seedy tomatoes, remove most of the seeds. Use your best olive oil for this soup. There is just enough in the recipe to cut the acidity of the vinegar and give the soup a nice mouthfeel.
Serve the chilled soup in small glasses or bowls and garnish each with a small scoop of creamy mustard ice cream and a little chopped cucumber or a chiffonade of fresh basil. The creaminess of the ice cream melting into the soup, along with the tang of mustard, is a combination you'll wish you'd tried sooner.
LoAnn Mockler is a freelance recipe developer, cookbook editor and food writer.