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Cucumber Sherbet

by:
June 10, 2010
4
4 Ratings
  • Serves 4-6
Author Notes

This sherbet is cool as a cucumber (sorry, couldn't resist), takes very little time to make, and is much more delicious than I expected! I was inspired to make a frozen dessert featuring cucumbers after seeing drbabs recipe for cucumber mint ice cream, and I'm calling this a sherbet because it's got a little dairy in it...you can leave the creme fraiche out and have sorbet instead (but I like how the creme fraiche balances the honey). - WinnieAb —WinnieAb

Test Kitchen Notes

This sweet treat defies everything you thought you knew about cucumber. Packed with the refreshing quality of cucumber, the sherbet has just a little interesting zip and a whisper of something creamy and rich from the crème fraiche. Cucumber Sherbet is a unique way to serve cucumber and very easy. - biffbourgeois —Stephanie Bourgeois

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Ingredients
  • 2 English cucumbers (peeling them is optional), coarsely chopped
  • juice of 2 limes
  • 3 tablespoons vodka
  • 2/3 cup honey
  • 1/3 cup creme fraiche
Directions
  1. Put all ingredients in your blender and process until smooth.
  2. Pour into your ice cream maker and proceed according to manufacturer's instructions. After 30 minutes in my machine, this had a nice granita-like texture. Place in freezer overnight if you want it to be firmer.
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I grew up in a restaurant family (my parents owned the now closed Quilted Giraffe in NYC) and I've always loved to cook. My interest in the connection between food and health led me to pursue a graduate degree in naturopathic medicine. I don't practice medicine anymore; I have a blog called Healthy Green Kitchen that I started in May of 2009 and I wrote a book called One Simple Change that will be published in January, 2014. I live in upstate New York with my family and many pets.

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37 Reviews

Write a Review
Sagegreen July 8, 2011
Ingenious!
Lizthechef July 7, 2011
Congrats on your EP - cukes are the only thing looking good in my garden and I look forward to trying your recipe.
lapadia August 18, 2010
Hi WinnieAb, I am slowly catching up on my F52 saved recipes; made this recipe and I need to shout it out…SO REFRESHING AND TASTY!! Thanks for sharing your creation…
WinnieAb August 18, 2010
Thanks for letting me know:) I loved it, but wasn't sure anyone else would!
carmicha August 11, 2010
I wonder how this would be with Pimm's instead of the vodka... since there's nothing more refreshing than Pimms, 7-up and a cucumber wedge on a hot summer day.
WinnieAb August 11, 2010
Try it and let me know ;)
mdm June 15, 2010
Tomorrow my partner's going to make Indian food (including naan made on the grill -- gotta get him on this site -- YUM), and this will be my contribution to the feast. Can't wait to try it!
WinnieAb June 15, 2010
Wow, sounds great! Let me know how it goes!
mdm June 17, 2010
SO good! Thanks for the recipe. It was a perfect ending to a spicy Indian meal -- dal, shrimp in spicy tomato/butter sauce (I'm sure there's a name for it), moghlai creamed spinach, naan homemade on the grill ... and then this sherbet. We all loved it -- rave reviews.
mdm June 17, 2010
oh and it was just nearly 4 cups of cuc that I used. I might cut back on the honey a tad next time, but the others loved it as is.
WinnieAb June 17, 2010
mdm,
thanks so so much for letting me know you all liked it! I agree- it might be a bit sweet for some...recipe should probably say 1/2 cup and then add more to taste...
RaquelG June 15, 2010

Yummmmmm! What a versitile recipe.... My Friday night happy hour is at a Thai restaurant and I can see adapting their Cucumber-Lemongrass Mojito to this sherbet with a little mint, ginger- and lemongrass-infused simple syrup to sub for the honey and a drop of rum. I love turning my fave drinks into dessert :)
WinnieAb June 15, 2010
Yum, that sounds great...
Midge June 15, 2010
Yum! Would love to know how the gin substitute goes if you try it, AntoniaJames.
WinnieAb June 15, 2010
Me too!
Heena June 13, 2010
I need to buy an ice-cream maker stat!
WinnieAb June 15, 2010
Can't believe you don't have one already!
whatsjohneating June 11, 2010
This sounds heavenly. I wish I had an ice cream maker!
WinnieAb June 11, 2010
Get one! It's so worth having...
monkeymom June 10, 2010
Beautiful! How do you think it would be with pineapple instead of lime? Does it need that tartness with the cukes?
WinnieAb June 11, 2010
You don't really taste the lime very much when all is said and done...pineapple might be interesting, but you might want to cut down on the honey a bit...might be too sweet with this amount.
AntoniaJames June 10, 2010
WinnieAb, how many cups of cucumber, chopped, do you get from the two English cucumbers you use? I'll be using Persian cucumbers, as I cannot get unwaxed (and local) English cucumbers. Plus, the English available here range considerably in size. Many thanks. ;o)
WinnieAb June 10, 2010
AJ, I am kicking myself right now because I was going to do the measurement in cups...much more useful for those who want to use homegrown or other types of (local) cucumbers, right? Since cukes won't be ready in my garden for a little while, I spaced out on that a bit...silly me. Anyway, I think it was about 3 1/2-4 cups, chopped, give or take a little, and when everything else was added and was blended up, it was about 5 cups or so. Feel free to taste as you add things to the blender; you can always use more cucumber, less honey, etc.
gluttonforlife June 10, 2010
Gorgeous!!
WinnieAb June 10, 2010
Thanks friend!
AntoniaJames June 10, 2010
Another to-die-for treat, WinnieAb! I can definitely see using gin in this lovely concoction. I am totally in love with cucumber, plus gin, plus lime (having been introduced to the combination while testing the amazing Cucumber Gin Cocktail submitted by saenyc for the "Best Refresher" contest). This looks amazing. Saved to my recipes. I hope to make this very soon! ;o)
WinnieAb June 10, 2010
The more I think about it, the more gin does sound good. If you want to taste the alcohol (whether it's vodka or gin), I'd add more than 3 Tb, though...
EmilyNunn June 10, 2010
Mmmmm, with an uppercase M. This would be good with oysters on the half-shell.
WinnieAb June 10, 2010
Yes, it would!
lapadia June 10, 2010
I second that....Nice and amazing!
WinnieAb June 10, 2010
Aw, thanks!
clintonhillbilly June 10, 2010
Sounds good -- what does adding the vodka do to the flavor? Do you think gin would work too?
WinnieAb June 10, 2010
You don't taste the alcohol at all (at least the vodka...I'm not sure about gin)- I always add a little alcohol to sherbet/sorbet so it doesn't freeze completely...helps it have a better consistency
drbabs June 10, 2010
Nice, WinnieAb! I'm extremely honored to have inspired you--I think you're an amazing cook, blogger, and recipe creator. I look forward to trying this!
WinnieAb June 10, 2010
Blushing...
WinnieAb June 10, 2010
I think it will be perfect!
MyCommunalTable June 10, 2010
Now this looks great and refreshing. I am having some friends over next week and are making Pulled Pork, oysters, pot stickers, etc. It's a heavy meal, so this is going to be my finish. Thanks.