Italian Lime Sorbet with Vodka (Sorbetto)

Lime Sorbet is the perfect refreshing ending to a Summer dinner with friends, even better if it has some vodka. This Italian sorbetto is like a cold limoncello made with only three ingredients. Whether you serve seafood or meat, this smooth, tangy, and citrus sorbet will leave a fresh and clean taste in your mouth. It is easy to make and will be ready to serve at any time in the freezer.

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• Instructions
• How to serve it
• Equipment
• Recipes you might also like
• 📋Lime sorbet
• FAQ

Sorbetto is Italian for sorbet, a frozen dessert made with water and sugar syrup flavored with fruits and sometimes liquor. Usually stirred while frozen, it becomes nicely cold and creamy.

This lime sorbet can be served at the end of dinner, but not only.

In Italy, lime or lemon sorbet is also served during the meal between courses.

Our opulent banquets can have up to 6 courses, with mains of fish and meat served one after the other.

The lime sorbet is served in between to cleanse the palate so guests can enjoy the next serving.

At seafood dinner parties, the lime Sorbet is the perfect step between the two courses if you want to serve a cheese platter at the end of your meal.

The vodka adds an extra push helping digestion and providing a soothing sensation.

In Italy, we love to finish our meals with good homemade liquors like Limoncello and Nocino, especially if we have company. This Lime Sorbet is a good alternative.

Ingredients

These are the ingredients:

• Limes: freshly squeezed lime juice (usually 6 to 7 limes). If you are using the rind, ensure they are not treated with wax or other products.
• Syrup made with sugar and water. As I do not use a lot of sugar, you do not need to use heat to dissolve it in the water.
• Vodka: this ingredient is optional, but it makes the sorbet creamier. Since the alcohol doesn't freeze, it prevents the sorbet from forming solid ice.

Instructions

To make the lime sorbet is very simple:

1. Grate the zest from 2 limes
2. Squeeze the limes and filter the juice
3. Mix all the ingredients
4. Pour them into the ice cream machine
5. Let it run until the sorbet is ready
6. Serve immediately

Top tips

• Use freshly squeezed lime and filter the juice
• Topping with lime zest, ensure the limes have not been waxed or treated with chemicals.
• You can store it in the freezer for up to 3 months
• Remove from the freezer 10 minutes before serving it
• If it is too hard to scoop, dip the ice cream spoon into hot water

How to serve it

I like to serve it topped with grated lime zest and mint leaves. It can also be served with seasonal fresh fruits like peaches, pears, or wild berries.

Serve it at the end of a Summer lunch, especially if you have seafood, like Black ink pasta, Sword Fish, or a Mediterranean Fish Pie.

Variation and substitution

You can replace the lime juice with lemon, orange, or grapefruit juice for a different sorbet. 

If using oranges or grapefruit juice, the 1 cup of juice should be ⅔ their juice and ⅓ lemon juice to reduce the sweetness.

Do not reduce the amount of sugar, as less sugar will make the sorbet too icy.

Instead of Vodka, you can also use Ruhm, Grand Marnier, Cognac, or Calvados.

Equipment

To make a perfect sorbet, it is best to use an ice cream machine.

If you don't have one, you can still make it.

Place the mixture into a container in the freezer and stir it every 20 minutes until it is frozen.

Recipes you might also like

For more desserts recipes, check out the category: Desserts

Also, check the recipes below for desserts made with fruits and vegetables:

• Peach Tarte Tatin with Calvados and Pistachios
• Pear crumble recipe
• Simply Apple Cupcakes Recipe
• Carrot Cake Recipe

If you are making the Lime Sorbet with Vodka, leave your comment below I would like to hear from you. You can find more delicious ideas if you FOLLOW ME on Facebook, YouTube, or sign up to my newsletter.

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