Pistachio Gelato

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bring a saucepan of water to a boil. Add pistachios and cook 30 seconds. Drain pistachios. When cool enough to handle, remove outer skins; discard. Spread nuts on a baking sheet and toast in oven 5 minutes. Let cool completely, then grind coarsely.

2. Combine milk and ground pistachios in a medium saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil, cover, and remove pan from heat. Let steep 2 hours. Pass through a cheesecloth-lined sieve, pressing hard on solids. Reserve strained milk, and discard solids.

3. Combine egg yolks and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer. Cream at medium-high speed until very thick and pale yellow, 3 to 5 minutes. Return milk to a simmer.

4. Add half of the warm milk to egg-yolk mixture, and whisk until blended. Return new mixture to saucepan with remaining milk. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon.

5. Remove from heat and immediately stir in cream. Pass mixture through a strainer into a medium bowl. Set over an ice bath to chill. Freeze in a ice-cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions. Store in a plastic container.

Cook's Notes

For the best flavor, soften it slightly in the refrigerator before serving.

Variations

Hazelnut Variation:Substitute hazelnuts for the pistachios. Toast for 8 to 10 minutes and peel. Stir in 1 tablespoon hazelnut liquor before freezing in ice-cream maker.

Peanut-Stracciatelle Variation:Substitute unsalted peanuts for the pistachios. Before serving, melt 3 ounces bittersweet chocolate over low heat, stirring constantly. Drizzle over gelato; scoop into bowls. The cold chocolate will "tear", making thin shards.