photo courtesy of becco
The modern form of ice cream is a relatively new concept, even though treats made out of ice have existed since ancient times. During the 5th century BC, the Greek markets of Athens offered a dessert that combined honey, fruit and snow. Over time, ice treats continued to grow in popularity. For example, the infamous conqueror Alexander the Great took pleasure in feasting upon snow ice mixed with honey and nectar. Today, the recipes of Greek ice cream have evolved to include more complex flavors and textures.
One of the most unique Greek ice cream selections I’ve come across is Pagoto Kaimaki, known for its distinct taste, which offers an almost crunchy texture due to using mastic-resin as an ingredient. With a strong, slightly smoky aroma, mastic resin comes from a tree and is typically added to chewing gum. Mastic is generally sold in drops of resin that requires a mortar and pestle to grind before using in ice cream. The addition of salepi (flour made out of grinded orchid plant parts) to Pagoto Kaimaki causes the ice cream to thicken and become more resistant to melting.
photo courtesy of gbrink
Other Greek ice cream creations include:
Olive Oil Ice Cream
Can you imagine what an ice cream tastes like that uses olive oil as an ingredient? From Greece and Italy to select restaurants in New York City, using a fruity olive oil to make frozen sweet treats is not unheard of. Common toppings for this kind of ice cream include flecks of sea salt, roasted apricots, sliced strawberries, bittersweet chocolate sauce or a balsamic chocolate sauce.
Pagpto Kataifi Chocolate
This ice cream involves a very fine, shredded phyllo dough pastry that looks like vermicelli or angel hair pasta.
Pagato Krema
To recreate a basic recipe for Greek vanilla ice cream, you will need 2 cups of full fat milk, 6 egg yolks, 1 cup of granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and 1 ¼ cup of whipping cream (or double cream). Once made, you can dress up the ice cream with chocolate chips, cookie pieces, or strawberry sauce.
