Plum ice cream and Tao
Did you know that Lao Tse, ancient alleged founder of Taoism, is said to have been born under a Plum tree? Given the many positive values associated with plums in Ancient China, it was probably no coincidence that Lao Tse decided to enter this world under such an auspicious tree. Legend further tells us that he was born already a grown, wise man with beard (not so strange as it first may seem, however, considering that he supposedly had spent the previous 62 years in his mother’s womb).
And yes, plums were widely cultivated already in Ancient China. Today – much like the many different translations of Lao Tse’s Tao Te Ching – plums can be found all over the world.
The tao that can be told
is not the eternal Tao
The name that can be named
is not the eternal Name.
The unnameable is the eternally real.
(from Tao Te Ching – translation by Stephen Mitchell)
Normally, I would consider a plum section in the supermarket with almost nothing but close to overly ripe and very soft plums to be a big let-down. Not so today, however, as my mind was set on ice cream. As you probably know, this kind of very ripe fruit is generally exactly what to look for when preparing for fruit ice cream!
That plums, aside from being delicious and tasty, also are brimming with vitamins, fibres and antioxidants added to the attraction (just remember to eat the skin too, though, if you are after the antioxidants). In a wu-wei-like manner, I filled my bags, left the supermarket and headed for the kitchen.
Choosing a suitable ice cream base
While other ice cream bases of course can be used, I decided to opt for a speedy American (Philadelphia-) style base. No cooking was required, which meant that I only needed to prepare a purée of the plums and some sugar before churning could begin. Great, since I wanted to try the ice cream as soon as possible. Deviating from the traditional recipes with only milk and/or cream, I decided to add some yoghurt in order to get a fresher overall taste. That way, I also avoided that the cream “dampened and dulled” the taste of the delicious plums themselves.
So – what are you waiting for? Follow the Way – the Way towards effortless enjoyment of fresh Plum ice cream!
- About 8-10 ripe plums (about 500-600 ml (2-2½ cups) purée)
- 100 ml + 100 ml (about 0.4 + 0.4 cups) sugar
- 200 ml (about 0.8 cup) cream
- 100 ml (about 0.4 cup) yoghurt
- 150 ml (about 0.6 cup) milk
- Wash, cut, peel and slice the plums. Mix with 100 ml (about 0.4 cup) sugar and purée in a food processor or with a mixer. Put aside for at least an hour, preferably in the fridge.
- Put together the cream, the yoghurt, the milk and the remaining 100 ml of sugar in a bowl and whisk until the sugar has dissolved.
- Blend in the plum-purée.
- If you prefer your ice cream smooth, i e with no fruit skin, pass the ice cream base through a sieve (if you want the plums' healthy antioxidants, don't forget to eat, rather than throw away, the skins!).
- Churn according to the instructions of your ice cream machine (alternatively, still-freeze in your freezer).
