Toasted Coconut Sorbet

It has been a long time since I posted about something that I made.  I usually post things that excite me and recently, I haven't felt compelled to share with you anything.  Today, however, I have found a recipe that REALLY is THAT good. 

Oh my.... this coconut sorbet will knock your socks off.  I used a recipe that didn't call for chunkiness in the final product, but I think that is a mistake.  The end product of this recipe is smooth, creamy with chunks of delicious fresh coconut that has been toasted perfectly.  You really must give it a try if you love coconut.  I also made Salted Coconut Sauce for on it, but to be honest, it doesn't need it.  If you want to make the sauce, it is delicious too, but save it for something like chocolate ice cream or over a crepe or something.  This sorbet really doesn't need anything extra.

You may think that using a whole coconut and preparing it is a lot of work, but in the end is it SO worth it.  If you just don't have time for that, you can always use flaked, unsweetened coconut.

Both recipes follow....

Toasted Coconut Sorbet {1 Quart}
 2 cans coconut milk, well shaken! (I used one full-fat and one low-fat)
 2 cups grated fresh coconut
 1 cup sugar
 dash salt

Prepare the coconut by following the directions in this video. Once you have the meat out of the coconut, grate it using a box grater. 
1) In a small pot, combine the coconut milk, flaked coconut and sugar with the dash of salt.
2) Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat and stir for about 2 minutes or until the sugar has dissolved.
3) Take the pot off of the heat and let sit until it has cooled.
4) Strain the mixture into a bowl, pressing all of the liquid out of the flaked coconut.
6)  Refrigerate the coconut sorbet base until cold.
5) Preheat your oven to 400 and put the flaked coconut on a cookie sheet.  Toast the coconut until light brown and fragrant approximately 10-15 minutes. Cool.
7) Freeze the coconut sorbet in an ice cream freezer according to manufacturers directions, or even just place in a large bowl and put straight into the freezer, stirring every half hour or so until it is the texture of soft serve. 
8)  After it is at the soft serve stage, add some of the cooled toasted coconut (and mini chocolate chips if you like... or almonds.... which are all not necessary, but a great addition) Save the extra coconut for garnish.
7) Let freeze until it is hard enough to scoop, and when ready to eat scoop and serve!

Salted Coconut Sauce

Ingredients

2 Tablespoons Coconut Oil

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 cup white sugar

1 cup Cream of Coconut (I found this in the mixed drink mixers section of the grocery store)

Instructions

Put all ingredients in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat for about 7 minutes or until the sugar has dissolved.  Use warm or chill and then warm it a bit in the microwave.