Mango Aquafaba sorbet

What happens when delectable mango unite with trendy, easy-to-make aquafaba meringue in a mouth-watering sorbet? Read on and find out!

It is hard not to simply enjoy the mango as it is. Only with great self-restraint, I managed to purée these tasty slices.

Mango is one of my favourite fruits, and avid readers may remember earlier delicious posts on mango ice cream and mango ice pops. Today, we will prepare a mango sorbet but we will add that little extra: harnessing the “foaming power” of chickpea-water (the kind you typically find in a can of chickpeas), we will add some so-called aquafaba meringue during the churning! If all goes according to plan, the result should be on par with those normally only achieved by the addition of Italian meringue. Aquafaba, however, will both be easier to make and contains no eggs!

Mmm … Mango Aquafaba sorbet

Preparing the mango sorbet base

Start by making a fruit purée out of the mangoes. 

Add the lime juice, prepare a simple sugar syrup, and mix it all together.

My trusty handheld mixer has successfully combined the sugar syrup with the fruit purée and some lime juice.

Simple sugar syrup (= a mix of sugar and water) is a core ingredient when making sorbets. But since the Aquafaba meringue also contains sugar, the sugar syrup’s ‘normal’ sugar content needs to be reduced: otherwise, the end-result would turn out sickeningly sweet.

I would suggest making a simple sugar syrup with 1.5 parts water to 1 part sugar.

Traditionalists may bring the sugar syrup to the boil until the sugar has completely dissolved, then let it cool down before using it. Or simply do it the quick way – just mix cold water and the sugar and whisk/shake well until the sugar has dissolved.

Then begin to churn this sorbet base in your ice cream machine. Remberber, though, that towards the end of the churning, we will add the aquafaba meringue!

Preparing the Aquafaba meringue

This is really very simple – unless you prefer to soak and cook your chickpeas yourself, simply get yourself a can of chickpeas and use the liquid (“the aquafaba”) therein.

The quick and easy way to aquafaba – open a can of chickpeas and collect the liquid!

Turning the aquafaba into meringue is equally easy:

Get hold of a whisk, or put the aquafaba in a suitable food processor and whisk until it begins to stiffen. Continue to whisk and add sugar. Whisk until the aquafaba has stiffened comfortably – finished! The whole process should only take about five minutes or so. Congratulations – You now have the functional equivalent to soft Italian meringue, the classic sorbet improver!

Italian meringue? No, this is actually Aquafaba meringue! For all practical purposes a perfect companion to your sorbets!

Still unsure? Go to this recent post, which explains the process in even further detail!

Finally, add the Aquafaba meringue to the sorbet being churned

Nothing could be simpler.

Just stand and watch while the aquafaba become an integral part of the sorbet, adding a healthy dose of captured air and improved consistency in the process.

The aquafaba meringue used in this picture actually comes straight from the freezer: Just like Italian meringue, any surplus aquafaba meringue can be saved there for future use!

Verdict: Aquafaba continues to impress!

Mango Aquafaba sorbet straight from the churning: just as delicious as it looks!

The mango sorbet, prepared with the aquafaba meringue, became an instant hit. By the time I had finished saying “aquafaba”, most of the batch had already been devoured by delighted family members and friends. Guess if they made wide eyes when I told them that the sorbet they so enjoyed was a mix of mangoes and chickpeas? 

Italian meringue is the classic improver of sorbets, but I can honestly testify that aquafaba meringue is equally impressive (and so much easier to make). While mango sorbet arguably is nice already in its basic shape, the aquafaba meringue does add a lushious extra dimension in terms of improved texture and structure – improvements which also add to the sorbet’s overall mouthfeel and, arguably, flavour. Since the recipe is so very easy, there is really very little excuse not to test it: given the added stability provided by the aquafaba meringue, the recipe is also extra well suited for those wishing to make ice cream without an ice cream maker. 

And in case you worry – No, the sorbet does not taste of chickpeas! Not even a trace. The glorious mango flavour rules surpreme, as it should! Go on, and delight yourself and your loved ones!