Summer vacations seemed to last forever when you’re little. Three straight months of running through backyard sprinklers and racing bikes around the neighborhood. My orange-colored, banana seat bike had flames splashed on the side of it and a kick-stand that always seemed a few inches too short. It was void of a bell, a basket or tassels that hung from the handlebars. I used to think, “when I grow up, I’m gonna to get myself a bell, a basket and some tassels for this bike”. Lofty goals, I know.
Mid-afternoon included a break from the heat for a cool treat from the closest kitchen freezer. Popsicles were the norm and usually they were freezies. Remember those? Without fail, someone would end up eating one too many blue ones and have remnants left on their teeth, tongue and mouth for the rest of the week.
Occasionally, if we were lucky, we’d be surprised with individual sized Italian ice containers. Oh, the excitement! I remember trying to eat mine as slow as possible in order to prolong the happiness of my taste buds. I also remember thinking how great it would be if there were other flavors to choose from. This pineapple sorbet reminds me of those Italian ice containers and would be a flavor I know I would have loved. Cold, icy, fruity, and sweet. With only three ingredients and some lightweight blending, I’m immediately transported to banana seat bikes and summers that last forever.
FRESH PINEAPPLE SORBET
Adapted from The Perfect Scoop, by David Lebovitz
Try to find as ripe as a pineapple as you can. An easy test for ripeness: if one of the inner leaves comes off easily, it’s ripe. Or, instead, just take a big whiff and if it smells sweet and delicious, take it. After you’re hooked on sorbets, don’t forget to try out the satsuma sorbet!
Music Pairing: Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, Summertime
Ingredients
- 1/2 ripe pineapple, peeled and cored (about 2 cups)
- 8-10 tbsp sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- small squeeze of fresh lime juice (optional)
Method
Slice the pineapple into chunks and puree in a blender with 8 tbsp of sugar and water until smooth. Taste, then add up to 2 tablespoons additional sugar, if needed. If the pineapple is fairly ripe, you should be good to go. You don’t want to add more sugar than you need or the sorbet will end up tasting far too sweet.
Chill the mixture thoroughly, then freeze it in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Eat right away if you like your sorbet on the softer side. For an icier treat, leave it in the freezer for 3-4 hours before serving.
Oh, banana seat bikes. And hide and seek under the street lights. : )
I keep being drawn to pineapple sorbets. Yours sounds so simple and sweet. I’m gonna have to give it a try. Thanks.
it’s embarrassingly simple and so much better than store-bought brands. and almost as fun as playing hide-n-seek. almost.
That looks fab, I’ve got a pineapple on my counter and I’m going to have to give this a try! I wish the summers still went on forever!!
perfect, great timing – it was meant to be! ;)
I’m looking forward to using guava in this recipe. Thanks for sharing.
most excellent idea! i love guava and wish it was readily available year round.
I love pineapple, I love sorbet, ergo I will love this recipe! =)
Looks so refreshing! I wish I still have long Summer vacation.
This looks so good! Beautiful photo!!
The photos are so great, do you do them yourself? I have been very interested in food photography, but i don’t know where to start… Have any tips?
hi john – thank you! yes, all the photos are taken by me. as for tips, good natural lighting and a tripod for starters. eliminate distractions and play with the composition – colors, shapes, etc. and most importantly – celebrate the food and have fun with it!
That looks delish! Can’t wait to try it.
hey! just added text to my airplane food post.
now, what camera do you have…and did you take photography lessons or something? amazing pictures!
i’m gonna invest in a good DSLR soon. love the sorbet…love the pesto…then…france?! when were you there? i was just there in paris last week…
http://picasaweb.google.com/chenst723
hi steve! i have a nikon d70s, though it’s no longer in production. the clever folks at nikon tease me daily with the d90. evil, pure evil! i’m so happy you are enjoying the photos – no photography lessons for me, though i would love to take a class. as for france, we rented an apartment in paris last year to watch the french open and then toured the south of france, one perched village at a time. i miss it everyday. looks like you had an amazing time in paris!
WOW, this sounds so refreshing on a hot summer’s day…like today! I’ll be making this for sure!
Beautiful photo! This looks so simple and delicious. I can taste the pineapple already.
ohhh that looks so refreshing. It’s been unseasonably cold here in LA, but when it gets warm, that recipe would be a winner!
I love fresh pineapple! What a perfect treat for summer. My favorite part was when we were lucky enough to get ice cream bars from the ice cream truck!
Love your blog and all your gorgeous pictures. I just subscribed and I’m already looking forward to future posts :)
hi kerstin – welcome! thank you so much for visiting and for subscribing. now, i’m completely with you on the ice cream truck – remember how insanely exciting it was to hear that infamous tune coming down the street???
Fresh pineapple is one of my fav fruit. This is a great sorbet.
Thanks for visiting my blog! I am definitely enjoying yours. This is a perfect recipe for the summer and a wonderful way to end an evening meal. I am definitely addicted to pineapple so this would go over big with me! Love it.
Thanks for stopping by my blog. Yours is really wonderful. The recipes and photos draw you in. That pineapple sorbet looks so refreshing – the walnut pesto – etc, etc, all look great.
I love the sound of this! I make a lot of sorbet in the summertime, it’s so easy to make and doesn’t make me feel as guilty as ice cream :)
hi sara – no guilt after a delicious dessert is a definite plus of this sorbet! :)
You do the best photos! This is something we will do this summer. Thanks, s
hi s.stockwell – thank you! i can picture you having this in beautiful santa barbara!
Just stumbled upon your blog – very beautiful photos and great looking recipes!
hi cheffresco – welcome! glad to have you and happy you stumbled upon me.
This looks wonderful! I actually just purchased an ice cream maker (yay!), so this is one of those must-try recipes. Thanks for sharing. I love your prose; it truly captures the summers we are having here in East Texas. Thanks for your kind words on my blog as well!
hi eralda – YAY!! i was so happy to get my ice cream maker – i think you’ll find it so addicting – in a good way! keep me posted on all your creations!
Why is it that ice cream always seems to bring back fond childhood memories of summer? And a banana seat bike ;) I also had a yellow one…with flowers….which was a hand me down from my two older sisters. I still wish I had a basket!
BEAUTIFUL photo–one question….who ate the bowl of 10 scoops ;) YUM!
hi courtney – i too still wish i had a basket! hmmm….maybe something to consider for us this summer, huh? :)
LOL. you are so funny…they were mini-scoops, i swear!!
Mmmm, I love the flavor of pineapple, this looks so cool and refreshing!
This pineapple sorbet sounds perfectly refreshing and so delightful on a hot summer day! Very nice!
Wow!!! Your pictures are so beautiful! I wish I could have a talent like you on snapping pictures :)
hi selba – thank you! that is so kind of you – i’m glad you are enjoying them.
This is definitely a taste of summer. And you have me hankering for Italian ices! The photos are lovely. Also love your walnut pesto. I often make that when I don’t want to mortgage my home for pignolis!
Can I frame that photo for my kitchen? So lovely! We’re ice cream freaks around here. ‘Tis the season!
hi aimee – you are too funny! we are ice cream freaks over here as well….and proud of it! :)
Oh my gosh, that looks stunning! The perfect way to cool down on a warm summer’s day.
I’m being transported back to those days just by your description. This looks so simple, but I can just imagine how refreshing it is.
Your BLOG!!! How come I am just finding it?
I love the recipes, the pictures, the writing…
Off to add you to my google reader. :) Yay!
hi bridget! welcome! thanks so much and i’m so glad you found me. hope you continue to enjoy it!
I love pineapple, I remember when we were at Maui, the first thing that we did was going to Costco and get a couple of pineapples…yummie. The sorbet look so refreshing…nice picture as well. By the way, thank you for visiting my site.
hi juliana – whenever we’re in hawaii (oh, how i love hawaii), there a least a few pineapples sitting on our kitchen counter. perfect for breakfast on the lanai!
Your sorbet looks so refreshing – now if the weather here would just cooperate and warm up a bit this would be perfect!
Love me some pineapple and with such an easy recipe it is a must try cooling treat.
Regards,
CCR =:~)
I am always on the lookout for great ice creams for summer, and this one looks so refreshing. Considering our AC is temporarily broken, this is even more appealing!
sorry to hear about your AC! the sorbet will come in handy to cool down, and in fact, will probably taste better without the AC! :)
that looks so refreshing! and I bet you can make amazing drinks with this as well.
This sorbet is fabulous – I love anything pineapple – but I also have to say that you have a beautiful blog!
Gorgeous!!! I echo Patricia, your blog is beautiful. Love everythign pineapple too and must try this sorbet and isn’t DaveLeb’s book just amazing?
valisa and patricia – welcome to you both and thank you so much for your kind words. yes, i love david lebovitz!
Gorgeous Pineapple Sorbet! What an awesome cool treat and a wonderful blog….some very tasty looking dishes you have here!
Thanks for stopping by my blog for a visit.
Fully support this! Hello summer!
[…] It’s refreshing, light and a great treat for the summertime. Kiss My Spatula recently made a Fresh Pineapple Sorbet, inspired by some Italian ices from childhood. The sorbet is simple, with just three ingredients: […]
This sounds so refreshing. Maybe I’ll make it and pretend I’m on an ISLAND!
Wonderful picture and the recipe looks fab’!
I bet this is soo refreshing!
What a gorgeous photo! I love summer colors.
This looks cool and refreshing. Ideal on a hot summer day!!
MMMMM..this pineapple sorbet loooks so rich & juicy!
Yum yum Yum!
OH MY GOSH THAT LOOKS GOOD. O_O
[…] Fresh Pineapple Sorbet from Kiss My Spatula […]
This sorbet sounds like a good enough reason to go out and get that ice cream maker I have been longing after! Sounds delicious!
great frozen dessert. Will chill my summer. Thanks yaar.-Indian recipe corner
this looks delicious.
Mmmm sound delicious….. Could you mkae it without an ice-cream maker?
[…] Pineapple Sherbet and Pineapple Sorbet […]
This is delicious! I even put about 3 tablespoons of fresh ginger…..puts a bit of a nice bite to it!
Cheers
I was just standing at my kitchen counter, thinking about pineapple… I love how fresh and flavorful it is! And then I thought, “I want to make a pineapple sorbet. I wonder if anyone else has ever done it!” And I found your blog!! I will definitely be trying this!
This pineapple sorbet will be a great refreshment for summer parties! What a splendid creation.
[…] You can find this recipe on the food blog, “Kiss My Spatula.” http://kissmyspatula.com/2009/06/08/fresh-pineapple-sorbet/ […]
Love it. Just made it and served in half pineapples. Really tasty and great reception.