Helado de Paila - Ecuadorian Traditional Ice Cream

Ingredients

• 2 cups (470ml) heavy cream 2 cups (470ml) heavy cream
• 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
• 2 cups (470ml) whole milk 2 cups (470ml) whole milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups fresh fruit (mango, strawberry, passion fruit, etc.), pureed 2 cups fresh fruit (mango, strawberry, passion fruit, etc.), pureed
• Ice cubes Ice cubes
• Salt Salt

Nutrition

• Calories (kcal / KJ): 320 kcal / 1340 KJ
• Fat (total, saturated): 20g, 12g
• Carbohydrates (total, sugars): 32g, 28g
• Protein: 4g
• Fiber: 1g
• Salt: 0.1g

Preparation

1. 1.
   In a large bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until the sugar is dissolved.
2. 2.
   Pour the fruit puree into the mixture and stir well to combine.
3. 3.
   Place the mixture in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to chill.
4. 4.
   Prepare a large copper pan or any wide shallow pan.
5. 5.
   Fill the pan with ice cubes and sprinkle a generous amount of salt over the ice.
6. 6.
   Pour the chilled mixture onto the pan.
7. 7.
   Using a wooden paddle or spatula, continuously stir and scrape the mixture from the edges towards the center.
8. 8.
   Keep stirring for about 30-40 minutes, or until the mixture thickens and freezes to a creamy consistency.
9. 9.
   Remove the pan from the ice and transfer the helado de paila to a container.
10. 10.
    Cover the container and freeze for an additional 2-3 hours to firm up.
11. 11.
    Serve the helado de paila in bowls or cones and enjoy!

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Fruit — Ensure the fruit is ripe and flavorful for the best taste. If using strawberries, remove the stems before pureeing. For mangoes, peel and remove the pit before pureeing.

Tips & Tricks

• To speed up the freezing process, you can use an ice cream maker instead of the paila method.
• Experiment with different fruit combinations to create unique flavors.
• For added texture, you can fold in small chunks of fresh fruit or crushed cookies before freezing.
• If you don't have a paila, you can use a wide shallow pan or a large mixing bowl placed over a larger bowl filled with ice and salt.

Serving advice

Serve the helado de paila in bowls or cones. For an extra touch, garnish with fresh fruit slices or a sprinkle of grated chocolate.

Presentation advice

To enhance the presentation, you can drizzle a fruit sauce over the helado de paila or top it with a dollop of whipped cream. Adding a mint leaf as a garnish also adds a pop of color.