The banana, which Lineus called musa paradisiaca, is commonly known as Adam's Fig Tree, or the Tree Of The Earthly Paradise, because the people hold it to have been the famous forbidden fruit, and believe that Adam and Eve used its ample leaves to cover their nudity after their fall from grace.

It banana tree is native to the Indies; its fruit resembles a green cucumber in appearance, but is smooth skinned and faceted. The pulp is delicately flavored, but it has a markedly astringent effect if it's not fully ripe. To make sherbets, you should choose bananas with yellow skins, which will be ripe.

A word of explanation is in order here: Pellegrino Artusi wrote this recipe in 1890 or so. At that time Italians considered the banana exotic. So exotic that Domenico Amaducci, a friend of one of Artusi's nephews who called on the old man and was invited to dinner, described them in a letter to his parents -- he'd never seen one before. Artusi served them with prosciutto as an appetizer.

The following quantities will serve six people.

• 4 Bananas, which, when peeled, will weigh 1/2 pound
• 1 cup sugar
• A garden lemon
• 1 pint water

Press the banana pulp through a strainer and add the juice of the lemon. Boil the water and the sugar, uncovered, for five minutes, mix everything together, and pour the mixture into the ice cream machine, being sure not to skimp on ice or salt. Let the mixture cool somewhat before putting it into your ice cream machine.

A printer-friendly version of this recipe.
About Ice Cream & Other Ice Cream Recipes
Puddings, Pies & Spoon Desserts
The General Recipe Index