SHF: Icy Hot Avocado Ice Cream
Let me just warn you before you keep reading. This recipe is strange. I’ve made it twice now, and everyone I’ve served it to thinks it’s strange too.
Hannah, my sister-in-law, first sent me the recipe, and hers got the same reaction.
But, here’s the interesting part: even though they think it’s strange, people can’t quit eating it. Because, apparently, strange can be good.
I’m always up for an adventurous recipe, but I was especially attracted to this ice cream because I wanted to make a frozen dessert for this month’s Sugar High Friday event, and I don’t have an ice cream maker.
Here’s the basic premise: take some ice cream, mix it with mashed-up avocado, a jalapeno pepper, coconut, and lime juice. Freeze it. Serve it to people just to see what their reactions are. It’s fun. You should try it.
The original recipe calls for vanilla ice cream, avocado, lime juice and zest, and jalapeno.
For the first version I tried, I used vanilla nonfat frozen yogurt and added coconut to the flavor mix. Andy and Jessica both really liked it, but we agreed that the nonfat yogurt texture was all wrong. And I didn’t really like the vanilla flavor–it overwhelmed everything else. Jessica recommended more lime. Andy said his favorite thing about it was that the spicy kick that comes at the very end of a bite because it’s hot and makes you want something cold. So, you just take another bite. Genius!
For the next batch, I tried Blue Bell Key Lime Pie ice cream and more lime juice. Billy said it tasted like frozen curry (that was not a favorable response). Garland didn’t like the coconut texture. I liked the added lime flavor of the ice cream, but the chunks of graham cracker crust didn’t fit in.
If I were to make it again, I think I might use lime (or coconut!) sherbet and process the coconut with the jalapeno-avocado mixture so that there aren’t discernible flakes. The creaminess of the avocado dresses up the ice cream’s texture to make it super silky, so frozen bits of anything are not welcome. The lime-coconut flavor dominates when you first put it into your mouth, but, then — wait for it — a spicy kick of jalapeno! This dessert certainly is a fascinating eating experience.
If nothing else, it makes for super-fun after-dinner conversation.
Head over to the Delcious Life to see what other fun frozen sweets people are making. Oh, and if the name Vanilla Ice rings vaguely of your adolescence, please read Sarah’s introductory rap. It’s hilarious.
Chili-Lime-Avocado Ice Cream
1 quart ice cream, softened (lime or coconut are my flavor recommendations. But I’d love to know if you try something else!)
2 avocadoes, pitted and peeled
Zest and juice of 2 limes
2 t. sugar
1/2 cup coconut milk
1/2 cup sweetened flake coconut
1 or 2 jalapeno peppers, seeded or not (depending on how much of a kick you’re going for)
While the ice cream is softening up, mince the peppers in the food processor with the lime juice and zest. Process well until the mixture is paste-like. Add the sugar, coconut, and avocadoes, and continue processing until the mixture is well-combined. Spoon the ice cream into a freezable container, and stir in the coconut milk (this will help to soften it up even more). Work in the avocado mixture, stirring until the ice cream turns a lovely shade of avocado green and seems evenly mixed. Freeze for a few hours or up to a week. Serve it to your friends (and for extra fun, don’t tell them what it is!).
This recipe was adapted from the Sweet Avocado-Green Chilli Ice Cream at The Splendid Table.
July 27th, 2006 at 2:42 pm
Ice cream: fascinating! Photos: GORGEOUS!!
July 27th, 2006 at 5:42 pm
Interesting.
July 27th, 2006 at 7:04 pm
i bet that the switcheroo from vanilla ice cream to lime sorbet will be killer!
and i really liked the coconut slivers…
July 27th, 2006 at 7:05 pm
One of those so weird its good?lol.Sometimes they are best.
July 27th, 2006 at 9:41 pm
So funny - we made this tonight for a going away party. It’s fun with people who like to try new things. But once again we did not chop the pepper finely enough for my liking (hubby did the prep).
Your instruction to mince to a paste is right on! Beautiful zesting, by the way!
July 28th, 2006 at 6:40 am
Nice! We love the avocado!
July 28th, 2006 at 7:56 am
Oh yes, strange most definitely can be good. And there’s nothing like the taste of Blue Bell homemade ice cream (where we eat all we can and sell the rest)! Oh, that makes me miss Texas. But I digress. I must say, you certainly have a way with the avacados, a high complement, indeed.
July 28th, 2006 at 9:48 am
This looks hot … but in a very cool way. Is that a strange thing to say??? I’m relatively new to avocados so the idea of eating them as a sweet is very very intriguing. I like it!
July 28th, 2006 at 9:22 pm
A fascinating concept. Not sure I’ll be game to try it myself but I’ve been thoroughly entertained by the idea.
July 31st, 2006 at 6:12 pm
This is definitely different, however I’m keen to have a try.
Unfortunately not sure my family would be keen though, they don’t like avocado normally.
August 16th, 2006 at 3:51 am
This sounds great! I’m going to add a link to this from my Avocado Pie post at Pinch My Salt. I thought I was the only one who used avocados in dessert recipes but I’ve run across all kinds of interesting recipes lately! Thanks
August 16th, 2006 at 4:10 am
[…] Avocado Update: Lately I’ve run across some other great avocado dessert recipes so I’ve decided to share those with you too. I think the most interesting one is the Chili-Lime Avocado Ice Cream found at The Weekly Dish, a great site I recently stumbled across. The ice cream combines the flavors of avocado, coconut, lime, and jalapeno peppers…yum! Another one is the Creamy Avocado Milkshake over at one of my favorite sites, The Traveler’s Lunchbox. For some great information on avocados and yet another sweet avocado drink recipe, visit this installment of NPR’s Kitchen Window. […]
July 11th, 2007 at 6:05 am
[…] In the “really? Someone is going to eat that?” department, check out weeklydish.com for a recipe that’s. . . well, just weird—Icy Hot Avocado Ice Cream. Here’s what the author has to say about serving to folks: “But, here’s the interesting part: even though they think it’s strange, people can’t quit eating it. Because, apparently, strange can be good.” […]
December 23rd, 2007 at 4:00 pm
Very informative article. Thanks.
December 23rd, 2007 at 5:47 pm
Well said. I would be happy to read anything else you might contribute on this subject.
August 29th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
When we lived in Brasil in 1960-61 nhowe frequently had “Coupe Camargo” which was a mixture of vanilla ice cream and avocado blended with some lime juice and served as a cold green mousse in a champagne saucer glass. It was lovely. I went looking for a recipe and found only this thread. I will try it (without the jalapenho!) and report.
mB
October 10th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
[…] 5. For dessert, why not try some spicy ice cream? […]
October 23rd, 2008 at 5:40 pm
funny receipe not tried it yey but was looking for a low calorie sort of avacado receipe because and this is the real kicker guys avacadoes are a great Testosterone booster(draw your own conclusions from that ) will see how it tastes and effects
November 1st, 2008 at 11:31 am
A very common flavor combo in SE Asia is Avocado and Mango. If you have a local bubble tea shop, I highly recommend you try it there - but you want it made with FRESH mango and avocados, not the powdered flavors. They will be shocked when you order it, but I am willing to bet they have fresh avocados and ites probably one of their personal favorites.
I just came across this recipe - and while intended as a “freak show” flavor, I can assure you that it is anything but a delicious and exotic ice cream. I wouldn’t go for the vanilla ice cream or sorbet with avocado added in, I would recommend you go to the trouble of making your own ice cream base so you can control the sweetness and keep the flavors delicate.
I am making the Mango, Avocado, Chili, Lime and Coconut ice cream for a dinner party tonight. The avocado blended into any sweet flavor adds a smoothness that you can’t match without high amounts of butterfat (Making avocado is a very healthy alternative). It doesn’t make it “vegetable” flavored. Be adventerous, try the avocado.
This message brought to you by your local avocado council (just kidding, but try it before you knock it).
April 3rd, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Alcoholic cocktail recipes
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November 3rd, 2009 at 10:55 am
I am going to make this ice cream for my Uncle’s b-day party, that’s on this Thursday night. He’s the kind of guy who is nondiscriminatory to food when making a sandwich. There could easily be tuna, cottage cheese, pickles, ketchup, apples and hot sauce on the sandwich! I figured he’d get a kick out of such an unusual ice cream flavor. I’ll let you know what everyone thinks!
November 6th, 2009 at 10:32 am
I made this bizarre combo of flavors for my Uncle’s 50th b-day party and he LOVED it! My aunt commented and said it was the only ice cream that would taste good with a beer. I totally agree- it has the ingredients of Latin cuisine, so of course a Corona would be a good paring.
Thank you again for sharing your recipe. I will definitely be making this again!