Take Your Bowl Of Ice Cream To The Next Level With This Common Spice

Ice cream is a dessert tied to comfort and familiarity, to the same few flavors you've always known and loved. It's often a carousel of vanilla, chocolate, cookie dough, and strawberries, maybe choco mint chips on a few occasions. And yet, every now and then, you get taken aback when you see it taking on ingredients rarely associated with desserts in the first place, like spices that are known for packing heat and intensity. Who would've thought that black pepper would be a good fit for something so cold and sweet? A common seasoning as it may be in savory dishes, black pepper can be quite the game-changer when incorporated into ice cream.

There are flavors that meld seamlessly into one another, and there are those that contrast each other in the best possible way. Sugary ice cream and sharply spicy pepper fall squarely into the second category, and the way they simultaneously unfold on your palate is nothing short of glorious. Tiny, peppery bursts punctuate the smooth flavor base. The moment those flickers of heat start tingling on the tip of your tongue, they're instantly soothed by the ice cream's chill. That subtle warmth and zingy aroma simply linger on the edge of the rich creaminess, and just like that, even the most ordinary ice cream becomes memorable.

Your black pepper ice cream adventure starts at the very beginning, when you're simmering fundamentals like heavy cream, milk, and sweetener together. Add around 1 teaspoon or so to the mixture and adjust as you taste. Freshly ground peppercorns are a top choice, but smashing them into slightly larger, coarser pieces is great for enhancing the texture.

There are plenty of creative ice cream recipes to try this twist on. A great starting point (other than plain old vanilla) would be tart summer fruits that play really well with the peppercorn's acidic, citrusy undertone. Make a bowl of roasted strawberry and black pepper gelato, and you're off to a phenomenal start. Also, try sour cherries simmered with sweet rum or malt whiskey as another way to enjoy the season's finest harvests. Similarly, apricots, plums, and peaches are all gorgeous pairings, and you can even grill them beforehand to infuse a hint of smokiness. Or maybe incorporate a tangy sweetness with honey and balsamic vinegar, or throw in a pinch of cinnamon to elevate the flavor contrast with the spice's intricate warmth.

Another route to take is to hinge on depth rather than vibrancy, with ingredients that this spice sometimes crosses paths with. Olive oil and ice cream are a surprisingly delicious pairing that only gets better when pepper joins the mix, especially with fennel bulbs setting an herbaceous, earthy tone at the base. Sichuan pepper, on the contrary, brings a fiery bite and piney aroma that packs quite the punch.