“The icy chill of sorbet wakes up your mouth. Your mind anticipates something sweet, but your tongue registers something unexpected, something savory. The effect is like seeing a favorite actor in a surprise movie cameo: first confusion, then surprise and finally enjoyment.”
I had such a blast in April when I came up with my Macadamia Cherry Chocolate Vegan Cake Pops for the Vegan Raw Cake Pop Challenge that I decided to jump in again and try the Raw Vegan Ice Cream Sandwich Challenge.
My beautiful sisters-in-law Alicia and Sara helped me brainstorm and had some fantastic ideas, such as fruit puree between sliced banana and basil sorbet between dehydrated tomato slices. I decided to go with savory, wanting to create a recipe that wasn’t similar to something I could pick up at the grocery store. I certainly accomplished that, but the problem was that you might not want to pick them up anywhere!
I will explain, but first, the recipes.
Raw savory cookies
I started with a recipe from A Dash of Compassion, but I made it savory instead of sweet.
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups raw cashews
- ¼ cup pine nuts
- ¾ cups chopped dates
- 1 T raw agave nectar
- Dash garlic powder
- Dash cayenne pepper
- Generous pinch salt
- Dash black pepper
Pulse the nuts in the food processor, and then add the rest of the ingredients. Mix until the mixture starts to stick together. Add water a teaspoon at a time until it starts to form into a ball of dough.
Roll the dough out between two pieces of parchment paper. Use a cookie cutter to cut out your sandwich shapes. You can roll out the trimmings to make more sandwich shapes. (I didn’t have a cookie cutter, and a coffee cup worked fine.)
Wrap your sandwiches in plastic wrap and freeze.
Basil Lemon Lime Sorbet
Ingredients
- Juice of one lemon
- Juice of one lime
- Lemon and lime zest
- ½ cup water
- 1 T raw agave nectar
- Dash garlic powder
- Dash cayenne pepper
- Pinch salt
- Dash black pepper
Mix all the ingredients together and partially freeze. Mix the mixture in the food processor and freeze again. Repeat. (You may instead use an ice cream maker.) Your sorbet should now have a nice smooth consistency.
Assemble your sandwiches, wrap in plastic wrap, and freeze again.
Basil Lemon Lime Sorbet Sandwiches
I also made an “ice cream.” Since I was using avocado as a base, I decided to use all the ingredients I use when I make guacamole.
Guacamole Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 2 avocados
- Juice of one lime
- Lime zest
- 1 T olive oil
- 1 tomato, seeded and chopped
- 1 t minced jalapeno
- 1 small handful chopped cilantro
- Generous pinch salt
- Generous pinch chili powder
- Dash pepper
- Dash garlic powder
Combine all ingredients in a food processor and freeze (or use an ice cream maker).
Assemble your sandwiches, wrap in plastic wrap, and freeze again.
So far, so good
My three recipes turned out delicious. The sandwich cookie dough was very rich and flavorful. The sorbet was sharp and refreshing. The guacamole made me want to dive in with some tortilla chips.
It was time for the taste test, and that’s when things took a terrible turn for the worse.
The Taste Test
My husband and son David volunteered. I set up my camera on continuous shooting mode and watched them trying my lovely creations. It appeared at first that they were less than thrilled with the flavor.
My sneaking suspicion that they were not good was confirmed when my son insisted that I try them. Heads up: Do not try these at home!
Randy and David do a taste test
(Write a funny caption for the above photo here.)
Where did I go wrong? Each component part was very delicious. (They really were!) Did they just taste bad frozen? Did the lack of an ice cream maker do me in? I suspect I will never know.
Final thoughts
Although I don’t regularly prepare meals that are raw or vegan, I was very excited for the challenge of making raw vegan ice cream sandwiches. Although my recipes failed, I am looking forward to seeing what everyone else comes up with for the contest! I still think the savory idea could work in more capable hands.
For me, I’ll have to stick with cake pops for now.
Do you think that raw vegan savory ice cream sandwiches can work, or was the idea doomed from the start? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
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It was a courageous attempt! The basil lime actually does sound really refreshing though! I wonder if it would be good just as a sorbet? Great job!!
Shannon ~ My Place In The Race recently posted..A First Timer No More
Thanks Shannon!
Marcy recently posted..Ride that bull
Wow, you are brave! I’ve been reading your blog for only a few weeks, and I would expect you to venture out to something like bungee jumping over Niagara Falls before trying a recipe this bizarre!!
I’m very impressed. I just can’t see guacamole in the same title as ice cream. Keep up the good work.
Donna
No bungee jumping! I really don’t think I could do it! Thanks Donna.
Marcy recently posted..How to eat real food in 8 easy steps
Not doomed from the start! I still believe.
Well…as much as I actually believe anything vegan will taste good.
Maybe your next challenge will just be a savory ice cream, doesn’t have to be vegan or vegetarian? Check this out: she makes ice cream with beer, beets, fennel, cardamom, etc. I thought of you when I read this: http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/an-ice-cream-wizard-brings-the-magic-home/2011/06/08/AGSZ5dUH_story_1.html
Thanks for the shout-out and, at least, it looks like you all had a lot of fun, even if not a delicious final product.
Sara
Thanks, Sara! I’ll check out the article, but I might need to come up with some new taste testers!
Marcy,
Those photos of your taste testers are hilarious! I’m sorry to hear that you weren’t able to win them over with your savoury version – but I think it is an absolutely briliant twist on a traditional treat. Thank you for participating. I really loved reading your post.
The taste testing photos are hilarious! Honestly, in my opinion, it was a bit doomed from the start. It just doesn’t sound tasty, especially for someone who doesn’t typically eat a raw, vegan diet. But I think you are super brave for trying it.
Laura Jane @ Recovering Chocoholic recently posted..Week 10 Results
Wow – I LOVE the idea of a savory ice cream sandwich. But, I think frozen garlic flavor would be a bit much for me. I’d go for more of a “not sweet – but bright” flavor profile. Love the idea of basil and lime together, but perhaps just going with those flavors is enough without the additional spices?
Now you have me all curious and considering options….
Deanna recently posted..Frozen Triple B Bites
Oh my, those photos of your son and husband are so perfect! I love the unique twist you put into your creation, but I’m sorry to hear your testers were less than thrilled. Perhaps you should get new testers?
Thank you for participating in the challenge!
Everything certainly looked attractive. I totally believe you that they were delicious. I mostly got the sense that you had a pair of comedians on your hands, no matter what your experiment tasted like. lol
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hahaha! That’s awesome – love the honesty. But, I’ve got to say – taste or no, the basil lemon lime sorbet sounds divine! Maybe I’ll try to give this a shot in the near future
Callie {Rawxy} recently posted..Chocolate and Bacon Ice Cream Sammies
Thanks. Let me know how it goes if you do. I never would have pictured putting a bacon flavor with chocolate!
OMG Sounds so delish! Odd combo, I aint gonna lie but I am sure it tasted great! Love the tasting photos there too, too cute!
What a bizarre concept! A bake off of sorts! You son’s face says it all! I am sorry that your recipe was such a flop. I hope you worked out where it all went wrong??? Thanks for Rewinding x
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