Pistachio gelato is one of the well-known flavors of gelato. Unlike commercial ice cream which uses fake pistachio flavoring, this pistachio gelato recipe takes full avantage of the pistachio nut’s natural flavors and textures. I have provided a recipe in which natural pistachio paste is used for the gelato. The pistachio paste may be purchased at major organic foods stores, but it can also be made by hand.
Gelato Ingredients
- 2 cups milk
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 7 ounces pistachio paste
Optional Ingredients
- 1/2 teaspoon of lemon or orange juice
Mix about 1/4 cup of milk with the cornstarch in order to fully dissolve the starch. The rest of the milk can be mixed with the sugar in a medium saucepan and placed over medium heat.
When the milk and sugar is almost at a boil, stir in the milk/cornstarch slurry and cook together another 3-4 minutes, making sure to stir the mixture every 15 seconds.
Remove the solution from heat and let it cool on a counter, with a piece of wax paper on the top of the liquid (to prevent skin formation). After the solution is cooled, place it into the refrigerator for either 2 hours or overnight.
Later on, or the next day, gently whisk the pistachio paste and add in the optional lemon or orange juice. Add the paste into the gelato solution and continue to whisk for another 5 minutes.
Add the gelato mixture into your gelato machine and freeze it according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Additional Notes: If you are interested in making pistachio paste by hand, there is a wonderful recipe and grinding technique that is featured here. Otherwise, many natural food stores carry pistachio paste, and online sites, like the one featured here, also offer the paste at a decent price.
