Almost everywhere in the world, the first thing that comes to mind (especially if you were a child in the 80s or 90s during the summer, is of course, ice cream.
Yeah, each country comes up with their own set of flavors while commercialization has ensured that we now don't have to run behind the ice cream man but can literally buy 'buckets' of our favorite flavor at the supermarket at any time we want.
Yet this isn't just about the kids but also for those who are grown-up as ice cream is such a food that is enjoyed by one and all – whether in its commercial or made by your exquisite cook of a mother.
I scream, You scream, we all scream for…
Well, every knows what Ice Cream is but it's a lesser known fact that ice cream is not an invention that is limited to the United States only. Of course, the variants it comes in these days (as opposed to the vanilla and chocolate flavors we enjoyed a couple of decades ago) are numerous and include fruits and veggies and the like.
Other countries do not necessarily refer to it as ice cream but with names such as frozen custard and yoghurt, sorbet and so on and so forth. And with this variety comes ice cream in forms where even those who are allergic to lactose or dairy protein can enjoy a dessert or two without having to break into hives or to visit the doctor.
Yes, we're talking about rice, goat and soy milk… as unsavory as it sounds but it does cater to an audience who have to remain on a restrictive diet alright.
Interestingly, Italy also has a rich tradition in ice cream with its own name – gelato that has been around for several centuries now.
Gelato (OK, OK… Italian Ice Cream)
This form of ice cream is considered to be Italy's own variant of the ice cream and there's no doubt that it is their very own way of eating ice cream because of the difference that comes with the fruit and nut purees along with the usual milk, cream and sugars that go into making ice cream in its American form.
And while there might not be any noticeable difference between its Italian and American form, the bottom line is that this type of ice cream contains less fat than the usual fare that you are used to, ever since it was made for the royal family since the 1500s.
Interestingly, there are machines that you can use to make gelato these days while the old folks still prefer making it manually, of course.
How to Make Gelato
As mentioned earlier, gelato is better than ice cream in terms of fat content but there are other significant differences such as being churned much slower during the preparation process hence only containing about 25 to 30 percent of air as opposed to 50 percent in normal ice cream. Another interesting thing to note is that while ice cream is often served chilled, gelato is served in warmer temperatures.
However, if you are interested in learning how to make gelato, so here is a simple recipe that you can use if you want to make it at home. Here is a simpler gelato recipe that you might like to try out as well.
Finally, here is a video that you can watch if you are interested in learning how to make gelato.
In Closing
No wonder kids don't run behind the ice cream man these days – there is no need, it seems! Nor would we have to worry about the ice cream melting if we tried gelato…
