A quick note on a fine and fun way to enjoy cherries, one of my favorite summer fruits. In fact, the very best way to enjoy them fresh and whole, if you ask me: ciliegie su ghiaccio aka cherries on ice.
Just fill a bowl a third or half full of ice, place your cherries—however much you’re having—over the ice and add water to come, say, halfway up the fruit. Serve.
Yep, that’s the ‘recipe’! It may seem almost absurdly simple, but slightly chilling fruit in this way subtly changes its character for the better. The chill firms up their texture and brightens their flavor.
Notes
Cherries aren’t the only fruit you can serve su ghiaccio. Other summer stone fruits, peaches and plums for example, are also lovely served in an ice bath. On the other hand, the treatment does not do much for citrus fruits or bananas.
Of course, reserve this treatment for best quality fruit, preferably from your local farmer’s market. The ice bath will enhance the fruits flavor, but it won’t work miracles. If your fruit is less than ideal, then you’re better off macerating them in lemon and sugar, as for a macedonia di frutta or mixed fruit salad.
One important point: the fruit you are serving this way should be at room temperature when you immerse it in its ice bath. Otherwise, the fruit will simply be cold, not slightly chilled. Excess cold will dampen rather than enhance the fruit’s flavor. So if you’re keeping your fruit in the fridge, take it out some 30 minutes before you want to serve it, then plunge it into its ice bath.
Make sure you have napkins on hand when enjoying your ciliegie su ghiaccio. There is no way around getting your fingers a little wet when fish the fruit out of the ice water. But that’s part of the fun.
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So funny, I do this all the time with my cherries (one of my FAVORITE fruits!). I'm so glad I discovered your blog – your cooking style is very similar to mine – looking forward to seeing more from you!
cool idea…yuk, yuk… really, refreshing and simple is always a welcome treat
What a great tip! We always keep our cherries in the fridge , under a cold setting. They taste so much better cold than warm. Will have to try the ice bath next time. Thanks Frank!
What a great way of serving cherries and so simple!!
Thanks, guys! You know, sometimes simple is best. There's nothing to this but it really does improve the texture and flavor of one of summer's most enjoyable fruits…
Wow, what a neat idea! Thanks for sharing
It 'is well not to forget their origins. I found surfing the net, your blog and I immediately liked. I also try to keep alive the traditions and the origins of my land, which belongs to a little, you too. I will follow with attention and interest to your blog. A warm greetings from Naples!
Roberto
(Excuse my English, but use the translator online)
What a great idea. We love cherries. Will try this for sure. I'm following.
That is absolutely brilliant! My husband and I LOVE cherries and I just read this post to him – I'm trying this tomorrow! We lived in Sicily and my husband is drooling over the remembered taste….