Although traditional mint choc chip ice cream is always green and very minty, this sophisticated recipe has a much more subtle flavor.

Ingredients: (Serves 4)

• 600 ml/1 pint full cream milk
• 225 g/8 oz caster sugar
• 28 g/1 oz glucose
• 285 ml/10 fl oz double cream
• 4 egg yolks
• 55 g/2 oz mint-flavored plain chocolate, roughly grated
• Mint extract (optional)
• Green food coloring (optional)

Method:

Put the milk, ½ the sugar, glucose and cream in a saucepan and heat gently until almost at the boil. In a medium bowl, beat together the remaining sugar and egg yolks until pale and creamy. Beat in the hot milk mixture.

Return to the saucepan and heat gently until it thickens and coats the back of a wooden spoon, do not boil. Chill in the refrigerator for 3 hours.

Stir in the grated chocolate. Taste the mixture and add as much mint extract and food coloring as required. Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker and churn until thick. Spoon into an airtight plastic container. Freeze until required.