Coconut & Lime

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June 24, 2007

Key Lime Frozen Yogurt



Ingredients:
4 cups plain greek style 2% yogurt*
3/4 cup sugar
zest of 2 key limes
1 tablespoon key lime juice

Directions:
Mix together all of the ingredients until the sugar dissolves. Pour into a ice cream maker and churn until thick, about 30 minutes. Freeze in a freeze safer container or serve immediately for a more "soft serve" style treat.


*I've heard you can make greek-style yogurt-which is thick like sour cream- by straining a double amount of regular yogurt overnight but I haven't tried it. You could also use full fat greek style yogurt here but 2% makes an extremely rich and creamy frozen yogurt and has a fraction of the total fat content.



My thoughts:
Due to some quirk in the universe, I often am able to find key limes (at Trader Joe's, Whole Foods or H Mart) for less than the the cost of the more common Persian limes. Normally I just use them as I would a regular lime, but some times their slightly tarter flavor needs a place to shine. I've made a myriad of key lime recipes: the ubiquitous pies (both with and without coconut), sherbet, fruit salads, and even bread and curd but I think one of my favorite things to make with key limes is frozen yogurt. Homemade frozen yogurt is a thousand times better than what you can get at a store: the perfect balance of creamy and tangy and the texture is phenomenal. The tart key limes really bring out the tartness in the yogurt without being over powering. I also think regular limes or even oranges or tangerines would be a good substitute for the key limes if you don't have my luck in finding them.

Note: a couple of people have emailed me about the straining the yogurt option saying that it was a cheaper alternative to the greek yogurt that works just as well. Since I haven't tried it, I don't know if it works just as well. However, I am not entirely convinced that it is cheaper to strain your own. I bought (store brand) greek-style yogurt for $3 for 16 oz, so the total for the recipe was $6. A 32 oz container of regular plain (store brand) yogurt was $3.50. Since you'd have to buy twice the amount of regular yogurt to make faux greek-style yogurt, your total for this recipe would be $7. This means that straining the yogurt yourself is both more expensive and more work. I'd only substitute strained yogurt if I could no longer find the greek-style. Using the greek-style yogurt I went from opening the container to eating frozen yogurt in less than 40 minutes and saved a dollar. Of course, prices might vary depending where you live, but I did do my price comparisons at two national chains.
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(posted by Rachel at 3:50 PM)

18 Comments:

Blogger Kilroy_60 said...

Not often I get to describe a blog as delicious; for this one it would definitely fit.

I believe this is the most interesting presentation of a blog devoted to food that I've seen.

Perhaps some time when I'm in Baltimore we can sample the fare. I recall a great bakery in Little Italy; they have all you can eat pastries and coffee. And I love The Blue Moon Cafe in Fells Point. I hope it's still there.

Sorry, got a bit sidetracked there. Wanted to let you know I've included you in the newest edition of A Hitchhiker's Guide To The Blogosphere.

Should you have an opportunity to have a look at The Gonzo Papers I'll look forward to see what you think. I definitely feel another food post cooking.

Cheers!

June 24, 2007 7:42 PM  
Blogger Deborah Dowd said...

I love key lime and I bet it is great as frozen yogurt. For info I have tried the straining method for a cheaper version of Greek yogurt and it works great, you just have to decide earlier that you want to make frozen yogurt. I used Dave Leibovitz's recipe for the Pinkberry like vanilla frozen yogurt and it turned out rich and delicious. I can't wait to try your version... great for dog days here in Hampton Roads!

June 25, 2007 7:02 AM  
Blogger Meghan said...

I just love lime... it's by far my most favorite of the citrus family.

This frozen yogurt is a dream to me!

I love the flecks of color all throughout!

June 25, 2007 8:43 AM  
Blogger Rachel said...

Deborah: I haven't seen Dave Leibovitz's recipe yet. It must be fairly similar, frozen yogurt is the easiest thing to make.
Let me know what you think if you make this recipe!

Also: you are not the only one extolling the virtues of straining your own yogurt. I added a note to the recipe addressing it.

June 25, 2007 9:56 AM  
Blogger Garrett said...

What a well written post and what a beautiful shot. I wish my ice creams came out as well as yours apparently do!

June 25, 2007 1:06 PM  
Blogger B said...

I strain plain yogurt for my son and it reduced by more than half sometimes...if you get a batch that has a ton of whey in it.

So I believe you're actually saving tons of money (and the 8 hours it takes the yogurt to drain) with the $3 Greek style!

Yum-a-licious!

June 25, 2007 1:45 PM  
Blogger JMom said...

oh wow, this is a definite 'must try' especially this summer. We just made our first batch of homemade ice cream yesterday, so this will be next ;)

beautiful photograph!

June 25, 2007 2:03 PM  
Anonymous Tori said...

When I was little We had a key lime tree in our back yard. I wish I had one now.
This frozen yogurt is so pretty with the little flecks of green! I'm cooling of just thinking about how yummy this must be.

June 25, 2007 4:39 PM  
Blogger Patrick said...

I, too, have experienced the lower-priced key limes in my area. I don't understand it, but make no mistake, I have no complaints.

This looks tasty, but where do I find plain 2% greek-style yogurt?

June 25, 2007 7:33 PM  
Blogger Rachel said...

Patrick: I bought it at Trader Joe's but I've heard Super Fresh and some Safeways have it. And Whole Foods. A popular brand is Fage.

June 25, 2007 7:37 PM  
Anonymous The TriniGourmet said...

no idea where to find greek style yogurt here in trinidad so i may have to try the straining method :) this sounds delightful!

June 26, 2007 4:03 AM  
Blogger Larissa said...

We're about to plant a lime tree in our garden, so I'll keep this recipe to try out as soon as the limes come...thanks!

June 27, 2007 1:49 AM  
Blogger wellunderstood said...

oh man! this looks incredible!

June 27, 2007 8:15 AM  
Blogger wellunderstood said...

oh, and one way to save money is to make your own yogurt. i make my own and then strain it myself for homemade greek-style yogurt. you do have to plan ahead, however, and make two batches to work this recipe.

June 27, 2007 8:18 AM  
Blogger Helen said...

There was atime I was making my own yogurt,because I missed the texture of European style one but then I found Fage greek yogurt and I stopped making my own. I don't strain it either when I make frozen yogurt and I agree that it saves time and money.
Great recipe!

June 29, 2007 2:21 PM  
Blogger JennDZ - The Leftover Queen said...

This looks amazing and refreshing! I am with you on the Greek yogurt train - you can even use a non-fat version that is cremier than regular full fat yogurt, and you can strain regular yogurt to make Greek yogurt but you can't do it with non-fat plain yogurt very well - so that is the draw back - fat content!

June 30, 2007 1:57 PM  
Blogger Catherinette Singleton said...

First, let me say that I'm in love with your blog.

Second, I made this last week and it was DELICIOUS! I served it over fresh blackberries and the flavors do very nicely together.

YUM!

July 09, 2007 4:22 PM  
Blogger Sparow said...

You know, the other day I couldn't even find persian limes in the grocery store? Several stores: all they had were key limes...I thought it was the oddest thing...maybe it has to do with what the growing seasons are? Anyways, I was quite disappointed cause I wasn't sure key limes would work as a garnish for my Cape Codders...

July 18, 2007 5:05 PM  

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