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Pistachio Ice Cream with Rhubarb Jam Swirl

Prep Time35 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Chill & Churn Time8 hours 30 minutes
Total Time9 hours 35 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American, French
Keyword: pistachio custard, pistachio ice cream, pistachio paste, rhubarb jam
Servings: 12 servings (3 pints)
Calories: 309kcal

Equipment

  • Food Processor
  • 2-Quart Saucepan
  • Whisk
  • Instant-Read Thermometer
  • Fine-Mesh Sieve
  • Ice Bath
  • Immersion Blender
  • Compressor-Style Ice Cream Maker I used the Lello 4080

Ingredients

Ice Cream Base:

  • 150 g cane sugar
  • 0.3 g guar gum (⅛ tsp, optional)
  • 60 g skim milk powder
  • 400 g whole milk (3.25% fat)
  • 400 g heavy cream (36% fat)
  • 45 g egg yolks (from 3 medium eggs)
  • 4 g almond extract (1 tsp, optional)

Pistachio Paste:

  • 120 g shelled pistachios
  • 4 g neutral oil

Rhubarb Jam:

  • 113 g fresh rhubarb (¼ lb, chopped)
  • 113 g cane sugar
  • 7 g fresh lemon juice (½ tbsp)

Instructions

  • Gather all of the ingredients and measure them out. Crack 45 g egg yolks into a small bowl and whisk well. Set aside.
    overhead view of portioned ingredients for pistachio ice cream on a wooden butcher block.

Make the Pistachio Paste:

  • Place 120 g shelled pistachios in a food processor and blend until finely minced. Add 4 g neutral oil and continue blending until it forms a relatively smooth paste. Set aside while you cook the custard base.
    overhead view of ground pistachio paste on a rubber spatula.
  • You can process for longer for a smoother result. You can also optionally strain out any chunky bits later, so the final texture is not as important here.

Make the Pistachio Ice Cream Base:

  • Pour the 150 g cane sugar and 0.3 g guar gum (if using) into a 2-quart saucepan and whisk.
    sugar and guar gum in a saucepan with a whisk.
  • Add the 60 g skim milk powder and whisk.
    skim milk powder, sugar, and guar gum in a saucepan with a whisk.
  • Prepare an ice bath by filling a large bowl with cold water and several handfuls of ice cubes. Set aside.
    an ice bath in a stainless bowl.
  • Pour 400 g whole milk into the pan with the sugar/SMP mixture, and whisk until the sugar/SMP have mostly dissolved.
    milk poured into dry ingredients in a saucepan with a whisk.
  • Add 400 g heavy cream and whisk again until the mixture feels smooth.
    cream added to milk and dry ingredients for ice cream base in a saucepan with a whisk.
  • Gently heat the pot over medium-low, whisking constantly, until it reaches 110°F on an instant-read thermometer. Once it reaches temperature, immediately remove it from the heat.
    a thermometer reads 110°F dipped into ice cream base in a saucepan.
  • Take a ladleful of the warm cream mixture, and stream it slowly into the egg yolks, whisking vigorously to prevent curdling. Once the mixture is smooth, pour the egg/cream mixture back into the saucepan, and whisk well until the liquid takes on a yellowish hue.
    ice cream base in a saucepan after adding tempered egg yolks.
  • Return the pan to medium-low heat, and continue warming, whisking constantly, until it reaches 165°F. Once at temperature, immediately remove it from the heat.
    a thermometer reads 165°F dipped into ice cream base.
  • Set a fine-mesh sieve over the smaller bowl you set aside for the ice bath. Strain the hot custard into the bowl.
    a fine-mesh sieve set in a stainless bowl.
  • Place the bowl into the ice bath and whisk often for about 15 minutes, or until the custard reaches about 75°F.
    a thermometer reads 75°F dipped into ice cream base in a stainless bowl with a whisk.
  • Add all of the pistachio paste and use an immersion blender to blend it into the ice cream base until everything has coalesced into a creamy custard. Add 4 g almond extract now, if using.
    pistachio paste blended into ice cream base in a stainless bowl.
  • Taste and add a pinch of salt if needed. I used salted pistachios, so I did not add additional salt.
  • Cover the custard with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or up to overnight.
    freshly made pistachio ice cream base in a stainless bowl topped with plastic wrap.

Make the Rhubarb Jam:

  • While the ice cream base chills, clean the immersion blender — you'll need it again. Chop the rhubarb and juice the lemon.
    ingredients for rhubarb jam on a wooden butcher block.
  • Add 113 g fresh rhubarb, 113 g cane sugar, and 7 g fresh lemon juice to a medium saucepan set over medium-high heat, stirring until the sugar melts. Continue cooking, stirring frequently, until the mixture reaches 224°F (the rhubarb will break down, and the mixture will go from chunky to saucy as it climbs). Remove from heat and blend.
    a thermometer inserted in thick rhubarb jam reads 224°F.
  • For a full visual walkthrough of the jam, see my rhubarb jam swirl post.
  • Pour into a heatproof container and cool at room temperature for at least 1 hour, then refrigerate until completely cold before using.
    closeup of freshly-made rhubarb jam in a bowl.

Churn and Swirl the Ice Cream

  • Once the custard has chilled, pre-chill your ice cream maker according to the instructions. Pour in the custard with the machine running.
    pistachio ice cream base in a stainless steel bowl.
  • Allow the custard to churn according to the machine's instructions. This will take anywhere from 20-45 minutes, depending on the machine.
    closeup of freshly churned pistachio ice cream on a spoonula.
  • You'll know it's ready when the machine starts to slow down and struggle, and the ice cream has a soft-serve consistency. Ideal draw temperature is 18-21°F.
  • Fill each container about ⅓ full with pistachio ice cream, then dollop 1-2 tablespoons of rhubarb jam on top. Use a chopstick or butter knife to gently swirl the jam into the ice cream. Repeat these steps until each pint is full.
    overhead view of a freshly packed pint of pistachio ice cream with rhubarb jam swirl.
  • Press wax paper onto the surface of each pint to prevent ice crystals, and set in the freezer for at least 4 hours, or overnight, to fully set and age.

Notes

Yield: Approx. 3 pints. A serving is ½ cup.
Custard Tips:
  • I like guar gum, but feel free to swap for your favorite stabilizer or stabilizer blend, or leave it out completely. If leaving it out, add an extra egg yolk.
  • Get all of the ingredients measured out, and set up your ice bath before you start cooking. Things move fast!
  • If you don’t have a thermometer (get one!), the milk will start to steam when it’s close to 110°F, and the custard will coat the back of a spoon when it’s close to 165°F.
  • I always strain my custard after cooking to remove any potential cooked egg bits. They’ll ruin the flavor and texture of your ice cream if you leave them in.
  • I recommend blending the pistachio paste into the cooked custard for a smoother result, but you can stir/whisk if you don't have an immersion blender.
  • If your finished ice cream is coming out icy or grainy, it's almost always one of three things: the custard wasn't cold enough before churning, the draw temperature was too warm, or storage is the culprit. A troubleshooting guide is coming soon.
Jam Tips:
  • The mix will look super dry at first, but I promise, all that sugar will melt.
  • Stir often to prevent burning.
  • The rhubarb will start to break down as the jam approaches its final temp, so you don't need to chop it too finely. 
  • I recommend blending the jam for a smoother result, but you can skip that step if you like chunks.
  • Let the jam cool completely (I recommend chilling overnight in the fridge) before adding to the custard. This will help it set faster.
Churning Tips:
  • Stir the custard well before straining it into the machine. This removes any large nut pieces and creates a more uniform final texture.
  • I like to dollop the jam on top of a scoop or two of the ice cream, then swirl with a chopstick to create ribbons.
Storage Instructions: Store ice cream in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 1 month.
detailed nutrition facts for a serving of pistachio ice cream with rhubarb jam swirl.