Cantaloupe Basil Sherbet

Both sherbet and sorbet consist of fruit juices or purées and sweetener, but sherbets also include dairy. Most sherbet sold in the US often contains 1 to 2% milk fat, but our recipe uses skim milk for a zero gram fat total.

Photo: Gregory James

By Joanne Lusted

Serves: 14

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 medium ripe cantaloupe
• 1 cup 100% orange juice
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 cup skim milk
• 1/4 cup raw honey
• Pinch sea salt
• 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh basil, plus additional for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Cut cantaloupe in half, remove seeds and scoop out flesh. Cut flesh into 1-inch chunks, place in a sealable bag and freeze until solid, about 1 to 2 hours.
2. Place cantaloupe chunks, orange juice and lemon juice into a food processor or blender and purée until smooth. Add milk, honey and salt. Continue to blend until combined. (At this point, if using a commercial ice cream machine, freeze mixture according to manufacturer’s instructions.)
3. Using a spatula, scoop mixture into a shallow 13 x 9-inch freezer-safe container and whisk in basil. Loosely cover with plastic wrap and place container in freezer for about 2 hours, or until frozen around edges and almost frozen in center. Break frozen pieces into chunks and place entire mixture into food processor. Blend until smooth and creamy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Place mixture back into freezer-safe container and into freezer to set for 2 to 3 hours or until mixture is scoopable.
4. Sherbet becomes very hard and “snowy” in texture when stored in freezer. To soften, allow container of sherbet to warm slightly in fridge for about 5 to 8 minutes or until soft enough to break apart or scoop. Break desired amount of sherbet into pieces and place into food processor. Purée mixture until creamy. Sherbet may be served immediately if scoopable. If mixture is very soft and not able to be scooped into a ball, refreeze for about 1 hour.
5. To serve, scoop into serving bowls, garnish with basil, if desired, and serve immediately. Best if consumed within 2 to 3 days. Store covered in a sealable freezer-safe container in freezer.

Nutrients per 1/2-cup serving: Calories: 50, Total Fat: 0 g, Sat. Fat: 0 g, Carbs: 12 g, Fiber: 1 g, Sugars: 11 g, Protein: 1 g, Sodium: 35 mg, Cholesterol: 0 mg

TIP:
This frozen treat recipe requires a few mixings and trips to the freezer. Don’t skip these steps, as they help break up ice crystal formation so your mixture doesn’t freeze into a solid granular block. Feel free to play with different flavors in your sherbet. For a refreshing twist, honeydew melon and fresh mint may be substituted for the cantaloupe and basil
.