I love recipes that use fresh lime, and this one is a winner! This refreshing Coconut-Lime Sorbet recipe uses both fresh lime zest and juice. Add in coconut milk and sugar, and you can whip up this creamy coconut-lime treat in no time.
A Frozen Dessert with No Dairy
This creamy, tangy coconut-lime sorbet is one of my favorite summertime treats, but I also have been known to make it during the wintertime when I have a few leftover limes I don’t want to go to waste. It is a simple, elegant dessert and the perfect balance of sweet and tart. I like to serve it for dessert in pedestal glass dishes on summer nights at dinner parties. I also like to scoop a single ball and place it on top of simple pound cake, almond cream cheese pound cake, or sour cream pound cake.
Use Canned Coconut Milk for Coconut-Lime Sorbet
This sorbet differs from ice cream because it contains no dairy. Instead, it uses canned coconut milk for its creaminess. Be sure to use canned coconut milk instead of coconut milk in a carton intended for drinking, as the sorbet needs the fat from the canned version.
How Much Coconut Fat for Coconut-Lime Sorbet?
Coconut Milk
Canned coconut milk does not appear to have an industry-wide standard for the amount of fat included in each brand. Some brands will have a high-fat content, while others will have much lower fat content. It all depends on how it is processed. You can use either high or lower coconut fat in this recipe. However, the higher the fat, the creamier the texture. Coconut milk with lower fat content may have more additives to compensate for the loss of fat.
For this recipe, use unsweetened coconut milk with a fat content between 9% and 20%.
Coconut Cream
Note that canned coconut milk with a fat content between 20% and 50% is classified as coconut cream, and it will be labeled accordingly. In contrast, coconut milk may be referred to as coconut cream, so it is essential to check the label for the fat percentage.
How to Make Coconut-Lime Sorbet
Follow these steps to make coconut-lime sorbet.
Coconut Lime Sorbet: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose a canned coconut milk?
For this recipe, use unsweetened canned coconut milk with 9% and 20% fat. Higher fat makes the sorbet creamier. You can find a variety of coconut milk brands at Asian grocery stores. Note that not all coconut milk tastes the same. Some can have a smoky flavor from processing the coconut meat over open fires.
Since there are so many canned coconut brands to choose from, can you recommend some for this recipe?
Aroy-D Coconut Milk is a top brand without gum or stabilizers. Trader Joe’s has an organic coconut milk, and Whole Foods has the Native Forest brand. Many other delicious brands are available, and it is worth making this recipe more than once to find the brand with the flavor you enjoy most.
Why doesn’t coconut milk in a carton for drinking work for this recipe?
This type of coconut milk is diluted with water for drinking. It is too thin and has too little fat for making this sorbet.
Can I adjust the sweetness?
Yes, you can adjust the sugar to taste, but keep in mind that sugar helps with texture and scoopability in sorbet, so don’t remove too much if you want it less sweet.
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The Best Coconut-Lime Sorbet
Equipment
- ice cream freezer
Ingredients
- 3 cups (24 ounces) unsweetened coconut milk with 9-20% fat (use canned coconut milk instead of from a carton)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- â…› teaspoon fine kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon lime zest
- ½ cup fresh lime juice
Instructions
- Chill the ice cream canister.
- Mix all the ingredients together. Stir until the sugar dissolves.
- Add the mixture to an ice cream maker canister and churn according to the manufacturer's instructions.