A rich custard base makes this homemade vanilla ice cream recipe “French vanilla,” while using an actual vanilla bean gives it an intense flavor that mere extract can never equal.
1-1/2 cups whole milk
1 2-inch vanilla-bean piece
6 large egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar
Pinch salt (optional)
1-1/2 cups heavy cream
In a large saucepan over low heat, add milk. Slit vanilla bean lengthwise, scraping seeds into milk; then add the pod itself. Cook until just scalded–don’t let it boil. Remove from heat, and let stand 15 minutes.
In a small bowl, whisk egg yolks with sugar and salt until mixture is pale and sugar is partially dissolved.
Reheat milk to just before simmer. Whisk about 1/4 cup milk into yolks to temper eggs. Whisk in another 1/4 cup milk. Then pour remaining milk into yolk mixture in a slow, steady stream, whisking constantly.
Return mixture to pan. Cook, stirring continuously, over medium-low heat to 170°–don’t let it boil.
Remove pan from heat and stir in cream.
Pour mixture through a fine sieve into a clean container. (You may rinse and re-use the vanilla pod; it still contains quite a bit of flavor.)
Cool to room temperature, stirring from time to time to prevent a skin from forming.
Then chill thoroughly.
Freeze according to the ice-cream maker’s directions.