Written by Evelyne of Cheap Ethnic Eatz.

For me ice cream is one of the ultimate treats in the summertime. OK yes I like it year round but in the summer it’s even better. For years I wanted an ice cream machine and never bought one or got one under the Christmas tree (trust me I put it on my “Santa List” a couple of years in a row). But last summer everything changed: I got one, for free! A perfectly good used one cluttering a friend’s pantry.

Ever since then I have been making my own ice cream. I generally like unconventional foods and flavors, and the same goes for ice cream. I am NOT a vanilla gal! This year has been an exploration of sometimes explosive, sometimes subtle uncommon ice cream flavors.

A list of tips I have come up with:

- Recipes with eggs are richer but take longer to make as you have to cook the custard and then let it cool before freezing.
- I am lazy and avoid recipes with eggs. But the results are usually more ice-like then creamy. Just as good but it’s a good idea to let soften on the counter before serving.
- Even after churning in your ice cream machine for 40 min the consistency will be like a soft ice cream, it will harden in the freezer.
- Since the container needs to be frozen to make ice cream I wash it and store it in the freezer so I am always ready to go.
- Wrap the container in a towel to prevent frost from forming.
- Don’t have an ice cream machine? You can still do all the recipes here. Just pour into a shallow container your mixture and freeze it until it gets solid around the outside and mushy in the middle, about 2-3 hours. At this time, just stir with a fork and freeze until firm.

If I look back on my last 12 months of ice cream discoveries I can definitely say some where hits and some where missed. I am sharing with you below a selection of my favorite successful creations….

Uber Lemon Ice Cream

3 Lemons
1 cup sugar
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup milk
1/4 tsp salt
4-5 drops of yellow food coloring, optional

- Finely grate the peel of 1 lemon
- Squeeze the juice of all 3 lemons and combine juice with sugar and salt.
- Add the cream and milk to ice cream machine
- Add the lemon mixture carefully as it will immediately thicken.
- Follow ice cream machine instructions

Lavender Ice Cream

2 cups of milk
2 Tbsp dried lavender
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
2 cups light cream
1 tsp vanilla extract

- Gently heat the milk till about to boil but do not let it boil.
- Add the dried lavender and steep for 5 min (longer makes it bitter)
- Strain out the lavender (I left a little bit in for texture and the look)
- Stir in the salt and sugar, mix till dissolved. Then stir in vanilla extract and cream
- Chill for 2 hours
- Follow ice cream machine instructions

Roasted Black Sesame Ice Cream

6 tbsp of black sesame seeds
1 cup milk
1 cup heavy cream
2/3 cup sugar
red/blue/yellow food coloring (optional)

- Roast the seed in a pan on the stove a bit on a medium high heat it wont take long.
- In a grinder or small food processor pulverize your seeds.
- Put milk, cream and sugar in ice cream machine
- Add powdered seeds
- If you want a darker color add equal amounts of red, blue and yellow food coloring.
- Follow ice cream machine instructions

Rose Water Ice Milk

1 cup whole milk
2 cups light cream
2 tsp rose water (more or less to your taste)
1/8 tsp salt
1/3 cup granulated sugar
red food coloring

- Just feed all the ingredients in your ice cream machine and follow ice cream machine instructions

Mango Curry Cardamon Ice Cream

1 cup milk
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup dried mangoes cut into pieces
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 tablespoon curry powder
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon chili powder

- Rehydrate your dried mangoes for about 30 min by covering with boiling water, drain.
- In a microwaveable bowl mix 1/4 cup milk, the sugar and all spices. heat for 30sec…just to warm up the mixture a bit and release the flavors.
- Put milk, cream and sugar mix in ice cream machine
- Add mangoes.
- Follow ice cream machine instructions

Maybe this list scares you and you want to try a more conventional flavor. For a no egg recipe the basic core of the recipe is: 1/2 to 1 cup sugar, 1 cup heavy cream and1 cup milk. To that add your flavoring.

Here is a great list of other unusual flavor ice cream recipes for you to try or to inspire you:

1. Thai Tea Ice Cream
2. Frozen Pistachio Baklava Gelato
3. Green tea Ice Cream
4. Basil Ice Cream
5. Banana Ice Cream
6. Coconut-Jasmine Ice Cream
7. Three minute berry ice-cream
8. Avocado Ice Cream with Jack Fruit