Sgroppino - Italian After Dinner Drink
June 7, 2009 
In Italy, digestivos are commonly drunk after the meal and when we were in Sicily, we certainly had our share of Averna after meals. But this digestive is drunk in the Venetian region of Italy and is bright, fresh and clean. A sgroppino is made by whipping together Italian Prosecco, lemon sorbet and vodka. Sgroppino means "to untie" as in, to "untie your stomach" after a meal. So you have a great excuse to make these after dinner! But hey, these are so refreshing we drink them on a hot summer day before dinner.
Some versions of this drink use gelato but most use sorbet, which has no dairy. When you make this drink, don't use a blender - whisk in the sorbet by hand so that it retains some of its texture. You don't want it too thick, but you don't want it real thin, either.
You can certainly buy store bought sorbet, but making your own is so easy. If you still haven't bought an ice cream maker, think seriously about purchasing one now. With all the fruits coming into season soon, there is nothing like fresh ice cream and sorbet. This is the one I use and this is my master ice cream recipe. But I also use mine to make sorbets. With some fresh fruit you can make sorbet with just water and sugar. That's it. No funny ingredients - better than what you can buy in the grocery store. And this lemon sorbet is outstanding all by itself. Keep the extra in a plastic container in your freezer.
Sgroppino
for a printable recipe, click here
Ingredients:
- 1-1/2 cups lemon sorbet
- 3/4 cups Prosecco (Italian sparkling wine)
- ¼ cup vodka
- fresh mint or lemon slices to garnish
for the Lemon Sorbet
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 cups water
- 1.5 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 8 lemons)
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
Combine the sugar and water in a medium saucepan, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until the sugar dissolves, about 4 minutes. Cool completely.
Add the lemon juice and zest to the sugar water. If not making sorbet right away, cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
Turn on ice cream maker and pour in ingredients. Allow to mix and freeze until desired consistency.
Reader Comments (20)
This is looking far too desirable at 7 a.m.! What a refreshing idea!
I'm taking this idea w/ me on our beach vacation this summer!! The family will love me :)
I have a bottle of Prosecco I have been "saving" for I don't know what, then I stumbled on your great pics on gawker and it all came together. Sounds lovely by the pool this weekend.....
This looks luscious. And I can use my Waterford Champagne glasses, which sit in the cupboard collecting dust!
timely post indeed.
I love a sgroppino.
I really should try making my own sorbet.
I made your mozzarella and red pepper bites the other day and they were a BIG success with all the fussy Italians x
Wow! Thanks for introducing me to sgroppino. Sounds like summer in a glass. What do you think of adding some limoncello to the sorbet?
No need for store-bough when you can make it this quickly and deliciously!
I remember once a waiter was briefly infatuated with me in Italy and he kept bringing me the strongest fennel digestivo... to be polite, I consumed all of it... let's just say I had to stay sitting down for a looooong time!
This sounds like an awesome drink. I can't wait to try it.
How refreshing. Using a dairy product would almost bring a "french soda" taste but only much better. This is a drink I would get hooked on.
I don't have an ice cream maker but Trader Joe's has a good lemon sorbet, and I just so happen to have a nice bottle of Prosecco! What a great idea Elaine, sounds so refreshing. p.s. Glad you enjoyed the peaches ;)
here in Veneto, the sgroppini are a little more frozen-less liquid than what the pictures appear to be. Almost a smoothie-milkshake consistancy. And they go down so smoothly.
Another very refreshing variety of sgroppino is licorice, made with the addition of "Anima Nera" or some similar liquor.
Love the idea of this - very refreshing, especially in the summer!
I'll have to bookmark this for later. Thanks!
yummy this looks divine... and makes me seriously miss Italy!
Thank you for reminding me of one of my favorite ways to enjoy Prosecco! I crave this from time to time and it reminds me of times spent with the family friends who live on Lago di Garda in the summer. But of course, we can make this so easily right at home!
tastes great i am sure
but saying it is mighty wonderful...
i would love one on this brutally hot sunday
this is totally up my alley. thank you for teaching me about this drink... i love prosecco and sorbet - the vodka just brings it to another level.
I just go back from a wonderful vacation in Italy. Had this exact drink at da Ignazio, a wonderful trattoria in Venice.. Just made this tonight for some friends and it was delicious. Thanks for helping me create my Italy experience!
Hi,
In this article you link to an ice cream maker. You have convinced me to take the plunge and buy one! I have a question though. Amazon tells me there is a newer model of the product. Should I buy the newer model or stick to the one your link originally brings me to?
Do you think this will stay fizzy for a few hours? I want to make a batch for a party to put in a drink dispenser.
wow!your receipes is just awesome and so tasty.you can use vitamex5200 blender for more smoothie.