subject: How To Make Sorbet Without A Machine [print this page] There is no need for fancy equipment if you and your family enjoy fruit sorbet. While commercials and advertisements make it seem like a machine is necessary to get the right texture, it is simply not true. In order to get the most family time out of the experience, gather everyone together in the kitchen, hand out jobs to different people and enjoy one another's company.
Ingredients
Gathering all of the ingredients in advance is the best way to make fruit sorbet. There is nothing worse than getting started only to find that you are missing something. You need some type of fruit. This can be fresh or frozen, soft or hard. It is possible to make this treat with something as soft as berries or as hard as apples. If you don't have fruit, don't worry! You can also make a version with just fruit juice.
Simple syrup is also a must. It just requires equal parts water and sugar. These two are boiled together until the sugar is completely dissolved. Many people chose to add things like honey, agave or even a sweet wine to add a little extra sweet to the mix. Something for acidity will also be required. Consider lemon, lime or even balsamic vinegar. Finally, if you want to take your sorbet to the next level, add some alcohol to taste.
The Process
Soft fruits can be mixed together with the sweetener, the acidic element and the alcohol if you are planning to make an adult sorbet. The ingredients are mixed in a food process and pureed together. If there are any pits or seeds, consider pouring the mixture through some type of strainer or mesh sieve. Hard fruits will require the same ingredients but they should all be boiled together or cook until the fruit is tender. From there, it can be added to the food processor (For hard fruits, don't boil the alcohol with the mixture. Just add it into the fruit processor). Fruit juice can just be added to the other ingredients and mixed in a bowl.
Freezing
If you have an ice cream machine, now is the time to pour the contents in. If not, just pour out the mixture onto a cookie sheet and toss it in the freezer. Once it is set, break it up and blend it in the food processor once again until it reaches the sorbet consistency that you are looking for. If you want it to be a little smoother, consider freezing it and blending it again.
There are endless possibilities when it comes to using different ingredients and combinations. Don't be afraid to try out some of the more traditional pairings like blackberry and red wine or even blueberries and pomegranate or mix up something you have never tried before.
