Dairy-Free Pistachio Ice Cream

Ingredients

• 1 cup shelled pistachios
• 1/3 cup preferred unrefined granulated or liquid sweetener (see note)
• 5 egg yolks
• A few drops of vanilla stevia
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup coconut cream

Instructions

1. 1

   If your pistachios are salted, give them a...: If your pistachios are salted, give them a good rinse. Put the nuts in a small heat-safe bowl and pour very hot water over them. Let them soak for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours.

2. 2

   Drain the pistachios, discard soaking liquid, then put...: Drain the pistachios, discard soaking liquid, then put the nuts in a high-speed blender along with 4 cups of fresh water. Blend for 2-3 minutes until the nuts are completely pulverized and the liquid has turned to a creamy light green. Strain the milk through a nut-milk bag or a coffee filter or a paper towel-lined fine mesh strainer. You can save the pistachio pulp for another use (energy bites?) or discard it. (Don't put your strainer away. You'll need it again.)

3. 3

   Place the pistachio milk in a medium saucepan...: Place the pistachio milk in a medium saucepan and add the granulated sweetener. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring often, until it gets steamy and the sweetener has dissolved -- do not boil.

4. 4

   Meanwhile, put the egg yolks in a small...: Meanwhile, put the egg yolks in a small mixing bowl. When the milk mixture has heated, slowly whisk a ladle full of the hot liquid into the yolks. Then whisk the yolk mixture back into the milk mixture.

5. 5

   Cook over medium low for another few minutes...: Cook over medium low for another few minutes until the ice cream base has thickened slightly, lightly coating the back of a spoon. Turn off the heat and stir in the vanilla stevia, vanilla extract, and coconut cream. Stir for a minute or so until the coconut cream melts.

6. 6

   Strain the mixture again through a fine-mesh strainer...: Strain the mixture again through a fine-mesh strainer -- if you want. This ensures that you don't have bits of scrambled egg yolk in your ice cream. Chill the mixture for at least 2 hours.

7. 7

   Freeze the ice cream mixture in your ice...: Freeze the ice cream mixture in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.

8. 8

   Serve. With some extra chopped pistachios, if you...: Serve. With some extra chopped pistachios, if you like.