Chile-Ginger-Mint Jellies

milk/cream ginger dessert mint hot pepper summer chile pepper gourmet kidney friendly wheat/gluten-free peanut free tree nut free soy free

Alexis Touchet

Makes 6 servings

Source

Ingredients

3 cups water

1 cup thinly sliced fresh ginger (about 4 ounces; no need to peel)

1/2 cup sugar

1 to 2 tablespoons chopped serrano or jalapeño chiles, including seeds (see Cooks' notes)

1 cup fresh mint leaves

2 1/4 teaspoons unflavored gelatin (almost one 1/4-ounce packet)

1 cup chilled heavy cream

2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar

Thinly sliced candied ginger

Mint sprigs

Method

Bring 2 1/2 cups water, ginger, sugar, and chiles to a boil in a 2-quart saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Reduce heat and briskly simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in mint, then remove pan from heat. Cover pan with a lid and let stand for 15 minutes. Strain ginger-mint tea through a fine-mesh sieve into a large liquid measuring cup or bowl.

Sprinkle gelatin over remaining 1/2 cup water in cleaned saucepan and let stand for 1 minute to soften. Heat mixture over medium heat, stirring, until gelatin is dissolved, then stir mixture into ginger-mint tea until combined well.

Measure liquid, and if it's less than 2 1/2 cups, add more water. If it's more, don't worry. Let mixture cool for 30 minutes, then divide among six (6- to 8-ounce) serving glasses. Chill jellies in a small baking pan, tops of glasses covered with a sheet of paper towel secured by plastic wrap, until set, at least 4 hours.

Beat cream with sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer until it just holds soft peaks. Top jellies with cream, candied ginger, and mint sprigs.