Homemade Italian Lime Sorbet Recipe (Sorbetto) (2024)

Published: Feb 20, 2019 · Modified: Feb 13, 2024. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Lime Sorbet is the perfect refreshing ending to a Summer dinner with friends, even better if it has some vodka. This Italian sorbetto is like a cold limoncello made with only three ingredients. Whether you serve seafood or meat, this smooth, tangy, and citrus sorbet will leave a fresh and clean taste in your mouth. This simple recipe is easy to make and will be ready to serve at any time in the freezer.

Sorbetto is Italian for sorbet, a frozen dessert made with water and sugar syrup flavored with fruits and sometimes liquor. Usually stirred while frozen, it becomes nicely cold and creamy.

This lime sorbet can be served at the end of dinner on hot days, but not only.

In Italy, lime or lemon sorbet is also served during the meal between courses.

Our opulent banquets can have up to 6 courses, with mains of fish and meat served one after the other.

The lime sorbet is served in between to cleanse the palate so guests can enjoy the next serving.

At seafood dinner parties, the lime Sorbet is the perfect step between the two courses if you want to serve a cheese platter at the end of your meal.

The vodka adds an extra push helping digestion and providing a soothing sensation.

In Italy, we love to finish our meals with good homemade liquors like Limoncello and Nocino, especially if we have company. This Lime Sorbet is a good alternative.

Ingredients

This recipe needs simple ingredients:

• Limes: freshly squeezed lime juice (usually 6 to 7 limes). If you are using the lime rind, ensure they are not treated with wax or other products. If you can find key limes, they are the best.
• Simple syrup made with sugar and water. As I do not use a lot of sugar, you do not need heat. The sugar dissolves easily in the water also at room temperature.
• Vodka: this ingredient is optional, but it makes the sorbet creamier. Since the alcohol doesn't freeze, it prevents the sorbet from forming solid ice.

Instructions

To make the lime sorbet is very simple:

1. Grate the zest from 2 limes
2. Squeeze the limes and filter the juice
3. Mix all the ingredients
4. Pour them into the ice-cream maker machine
5. Let it run until the sorbet is ready
6. Serve immediately

Top tips

• Use fresh lime juice and filter the juice
• Topping with lime zest, ensure the limes have not been waxed or treated with chemicals.
• For best results, use an ice cream maker
• You can store it in the freezer for up to 3 months
• Remove from the freezer 10 minutes before serving it
• If it is too hard to scoop, dip the ice cream spoon into hot water

How to serve it

I like to serve it topped with grated lime zest and mint leaves.

It can also be served with seasonal fresh fruits like peaches, pears, wild berries or fresh mangoes.

Serve it at the end of a Summer lunch, especially if you have seafood, like Black inkpasta, Sword Fish,or a MediterraneanFish Pie.

Variation and substitution

For different sorbet recipes, you can replace the lime juice with lemon, orange, or grapefruit juice.

If using oranges or grapefruit juice, the 1 cup of juice should be ⅔ their juice and ⅓ lemon juice to reduce the sweetness.

Do not reduce the amount of added sugar, as less sugar will make the sorbet form ice crystals.

Instead of Vodka, you can also use Ruhm, Grand Marnier, Cognac, or Calvados.

Equipment

For an easy sorbet recipe, it is best to use an ice cream machine.

Ensure to check the manufacturer's instructions.

If you don't have one, you can still make it.

Place the mixture into a freezer-safe container in the freezer and stir it every 20 minutes until it is frozen.

Recipes you might also like

For more desserts recipes, check out the category: Desserts

Also, check the recipes below for desserts made with fruits and vegetables:

• Peach Tarte Tatin with Calvados and Pistachios
• Pear crumble recipe
• Simply Apple Cupcakes Recipe
• Carrot Cake Recipe

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