Ice Cream Sandwiches

Thai-Style Ice Cream Sandwiches

Here's a fascinating Thai ice cream tradition. Recipe by Pok Pok PDX, a Portland, OR restaurant inspired by the pubs, restaurants, homes and the streets of Southeast Asia

Khanom Pang Ai Tiim
Thai-Style ice cream sandwich served on a hot dog bun and topped with chocolate syrup and chopped peanuts.

Ingredients
1 cup granulated sugar
½ cup water
4 cups unsweetened coconut cream (preferably boxed)
8 ounces defrosted frozen mature or “yellow” (not “young” or “green”), ripe jackfruit flesh
4 split-top hot dog buns, at room temperature
Generous ½ cup Sweet Sticky Rice, warm
Chocolate syrup, for drizzling
Sweetened condensed milk, preferably Longevity or Black & White brand, for drizzling
About ¼ cup coarsely crushed unsalted roasted peanuts
Directions
Combine the sugar and the water in a small pot, set it over medium heat, and let it come to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Keep cooking until the sugar fully dissolves and the mixture registers 230 F to 235 F on a candy thermometer.
Take the pot off the heat and let the mixture come to room temperature. The mixture will harden slightly as it cools. Combine the mixture and the coconut cream in a mixing bowl. Cover and refrigerate the mixture, stirring occasionally, until it’s fully chilled, at least 1 hour.
Meanwhile, cut the jackfruit flesh into approximately 1/4-inch chunks. Once the mixture has fully chilled, stir in the jackfruit.
Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer’s instructions. (The specifics of the process vary from machine to machine.)
Transfer the mixture to containers and freeze until fully frozen, at least 4 hours; it will keep up to 1 week. You’ll have about 11/2 quarts.
Just before you plan to serve them, pull open the buns and spread a generous 2 tablespoons of the sticky rice on each one.
Top each bun with 3 or 4 small scoops of the ice cream, then lightly drizzle the ice cream with chocolate syrup and condensed milk, then sprinkle on the peanuts.
Don’t be shy: pick it up and eat it like a sandwich.