Vanilla Semifreddo Recipes

Steps:

• Line a metal loaf pan (approximately 9x5x3") with 2 layers of plastic wrap, leaving generous overhang on all sides.
• Grind pistachios and 2 tablespoons sugar in a food processor until very finely chopped. Transfer pistachio mixture to a small sauce- pan. Add 1/2 cup milk; bring to a boil. Remove from heat, cover, and let steep for 20 minutes. Set a fine-mesh strainer over a medium bowl; strain, discarding solids. Stir in almond extract; set pistachio mixture aside.
• Place remaining 1/2 cup milk in a separate small saucepan. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean and bring to a simmer. Re- move from heat, cover, and let steep for 15 minutes. Set a strainer over another medium bowl; strain, discarding solids, and chill vanilla mixture.
• Purée strawberries and 2 tablespoons sugar in a food processor until smooth. Set a fine-mesh strainer over another medium bowl; strain, pressing on solids to extract as much juice as possible. Discard solids. Stir in vanilla extract and set strawberry mixture aside.
• Whisk eggs, salt, and remaining 1/2 cup sugar in a medium metal bowl. Set bowl over a medium saucepan of simmering water (do not allow bottom of bowl to touch water). Beat egg mixture at high speed until it triples in volume and an instant-read thermometer inserted into mixture registers 170°F, about 3 minutes. Remove bowl from over water and continue beating until thick and cool, about 3 minutes. Add one-third of egg mixture to each of the pistachio, strawberry, and vanilla mixtures; fold each just to blend.
• Beat cream in a large bowl until soft peaks form. Add one-third of cream to each of the pistachio, strawberry, and vanilla mixtures; fold each just to blend. Cover vanilla and strawberry mixtures separately; chill. Pour pistachio mixture into pan; smooth top. Cover; freeze until firm, about 45 minutes. Gently pour straw- berry mixture over pistachio layer; smooth top. Freeze until firm, about 45 minutes. Gently fold vanilla mixture to blend; pour over and smooth top. Freeze until firm, about 4 hours. DO AHEAD: Can be made 3 days ahead. Fold plastic wrap over; seal tightly and keep frozen.
• Uncover semifreddo. Using plastic wrap as an aid, lift from mold. Invert onto a chilled platter; peel off plastic. Slice crosswise.

Steps:

• Line 1 quart (9x4 inch) loaf pan with plastic wrap and place it in your freezer to chill while you make the egg-and-cream mixture.
• In a bowl, beat the cream with an electric mixer on high until doubled in volume and holds soft peaks when the beaters are turned off and lifted up.
• Set aside at room temperature, away from the stove's heat.
• Bring about 3 inches water to a boil in a large saucepan set over high heat; decrease heat so the water simmers gently.
• Clean and dry the beaters for your mixer; place the egg yolks and ¼ cup of sugar in a bowl that will fit snugly over the pan with the simmering water.
• Beat away from the heat at medium speed until thick and pale yellow; about 1 minute.
• Set the bowl over the saucepan and continue beating until the mixture will make little mounds when the beaters are turned off, lifted up, and any mixture on them is allowed to dribble back into the pan, about 2 more minutes.
• Beat in the vanilla, then remove bowl from the saucepan (do not turn off the heat under the pan) and set aside at room temperature for 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, clean and dry the beaters again; place the egg whites, salt, and the remaining ½ cup sugar in another bowl and fit it snugly over the saucepan with the simmering water.
• Beat at medium speed for 1 minute, until frothy.
• Add in the cream of tartar and continue beating at medium speed, scraping down the sides of the bowl occasionally with a rubber spatula, until smooth, shiny, and satiny, about 3 minutes.
• Remove the bowl from the saucepan and continue beating off the heat until room temperature, about 1 more minute.
• Fold about half of the egg white mixture into the egg yolk mixture with a rubber spatula until smooth, then fold in the remaining egg white mixture.
• Fold in the whipped cream gently, just to incorporate it without losing much of the volume.
• Take the prepared loaf pan out of the freezer and pour this mixture into it.
• Spread the mixture gently to the corners with a rubber spatula.
• Return to you freezer and chill until cold and thick, about 6-8 hours.
• Once the semifreddo is set, cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap to ward off freezer odors, can be stored this way for up to 2 weeks.
• To serve, turn the loaf pan upside down on a serving platter; hold the plastic wrap at the sides and lift off the pan, wiggling it from side to side.
• Pull the plastic off the semifreddo and cut into slices about 1 inch thick.

Steps:

• In a mixer with a whisk attachment, whisk the cream into medium peaks. Add 1 cup of the sugar to the cream and continue to whisk until stiff peaks form. Turn the cream out into a large bowl. Clean the bowl and whisk attachment. Add the egg yolks and the remaining 1 cup sugar. Whisk until the yolks are pale yellow and tripled in volume. Add the yolks to the whipped cream. Add the almond or vanilla extract and begin to fold the yolks into the cream. Add the pistachios and turn the mixture out into a glass serving dish. Freeze overnight. To serve: Cut the semifreddo into desired size pieces. Place individual pieces in a serving bowl and top with berries and chocolate sauce. Garnish with powdered sugar and a sprig of mint.

Steps:

• Lightly oil an 8 1/2-by-4 1/2-by-2-inch loaf pan and line it as neatly as possible with plastic wrap, allowing enough to drape over the sides to later cover the top. (I lay two pieces of plastic wrap across the pan, overlapping in the middle.) Place the pan in the freezer.
• Put the egg yolks (reserve 1/3 cup of the egg whites and discard or save the rest for another use), 1/4 cup of the sugar and the vanilla seeds in a medium heatproof bowl and beat with a handheld mixer fitted with the beater attachment for 2 minutes, until light yellow and thickened. Place the bowl over a pan of simmering water and beat the mixture continually for 3 minutes, until doubled in volume and warm to the touch. Off the heat, beat the mixture for 1 minute.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, add the reserved egg whites, the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar and the cream of tartar and beat on high speed until the whites form firm but not dry peaks. Fold the egg whites into the egg mixture with a rubber spatula.
• Without washing the mixer or whisk, pour the heavy cream, vanilla liqueur (if using) and vanilla into the bowl and beat on high speed until it forms soft peaks. Fold the whipped cream carefully but thoroughly into the egg mixture. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan, cover with plastic wrap, and freeze for at least 4 hours.
• Place the raspberries, sugar and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer for 4 minutes.
• Pour the mixture and the preserves into the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade and process until smooth. Stir in the framboise and chill.
• To unmold, dip the pan in a bowl of hot tap water for 8 to 10 seconds and turn the semifreddo upside down onto a rectangular serving plate. Peel off the plastic wrap. (You can cover and refreeze the semifreddo for a few hours on the serving plate.) Pour several tablespoons of raspberry sauce on each dessert plate, cut 1-inch-thick slices of the semifreddo and place them in the center of the sauce. Sprinkle each serving with blueberries and serve immediately.

Steps:

• Lightly oil a 9-inch round cake pan and line it with plastic wrap, tucking the wrap into the corners and smoothing it out completely with your hands. Let the excess plastic drape over the sides of the pan.
• In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the cream at medium speed, until it forms stiff peaks. Transfer the whipped cream to another bowl, cover, and chill while you make the rest of the dessert. Wash and dry the mixing bowl and whisk attachment.
• Split the vanilla bean in half lengthwise. Use a paring knife to scrape the seeds and pulp into the mixing bowl. Add the egg yolks, vanilla extract, and half of the sugar, and mix at high speed with the whisk attachment about 3 minutes, until the mixture is thick and light-colored and has doubled in volume. Transfer to a large bowl and set aside. Wash and dry the mixing bowl and whisk attachment.
• Whip the egg whites at medium speed about 1 minute, until frothy. Turn the speed up to high, and slowly pour in the remaining 1/3 cup sugar. Whip on high speed about 4 minutes, until stiff peaks have formed.
• Fold the chilled whipped cream into the yolk mixture. Then gently fold in the egg whites, a third at a time. Pour the mixture into the prepared cake pan and tap the pan on the counter three times. Place a piece of plastic wrap over the surface, smoothing it with your hands (wrinkles in the plastic wrap will leave lines on the semifreddo). Fold the draping plastic wrap over the edges, and freeze for at least 4 hours.
• Take the semifreddo out of the freezer 10 minutes before serving. Spoon a little rhubarb compote onto six plates. Cut six slices from the semifreddo and place them on the plates over the compote. Spoon a little more compote over the top of each slice of the semifreddo. Pass the remaining compote at the table.
• Cut the rhubarb stalks in half lengthwise, and slice crosswise into 1/2-inch-long pieces.
• Split the vanilla bean in half lengthwise, and use a paring knife to scrape the seeds and pulp into a medium pan. Add the vanilla pod, sugar, and 2 tablespoons water. Without stirring, bring the ingredients to a boil over medium heat. Continue cooking for about 8 minutes, swirling the pan once in a while, until you have a deep golden brown caramel. Immediately toss in half the rhubarb and all the wine. The caramel will seize up and harden slightly. Turn the heat down to medium and stir constantly with a wooden spoon, breaking up the rhubarb, until it's jammy. Stir in the rest of the rhubarb and 1/2 cup water. Cook a few minutes until the rhubarb is tender but not mushy. Remove the pan from the heat, and strain the rhubarb over a bowl. Return the liquid to the pan, and bring it to a boil over medium-high heat.
• Meanwhile, stir 1 tablespoon water into the cornstarch (this is called a "slurry" and will help thicken the fruit juices). Whisk the slurry into the liquid, and let it come back to a boil, stirring continuously. Cook over medium heat a few minutes, until the liquid is shiny and thickened. Pour the liquid back into the bowl, and stir in the rhubarb. Chill before serving.
• The semifreddo needs to be made at least 4 hours ahead (preferably the day before), so it has time to set completely.

Steps:

• To make the base for the semifreddo, melt the dark chocolate, cool slightly.
• Pulse the cornflakes and the melted chocolate until combined.
• Spread thinly over the base of 8 flan tins lined with cling wrap.
• Place in fridge for at least 1 hour.
• Melt the milk chocolate and put aside.
• Put egg yolks, Frangelica and 40g sugar in a bowl and place the bowl over a pot of boiling water then whisk until the mixture is light, thick and forms a slowly dissovling ribbon when the whisk is lifted.
• Set aside and cool. Then add the melted milk chocolate.
• While the egg yolk mixture is cooling, whisk egg whites until foamy.
• Slowly add the 75g sugar until they form a stiff meringue.
• Fold the meringue into the cooled chocolate egg mixture.
• Fold in the whipped cream until well incorporated.
• Pour the mixture into the 8 flan tins and freeze for 2-3 hours.
• To unmold lift out using the cling wrap.