Grapefruit Marigold Sorbet with Lemon Gel
JojoM
Bright grapefruit bowls filled with floral marigold sorbet, silky lemon gel and aloe vera, finished with marigold sprouts and olive oil for a refined dessert.
A Bright, Floral Citrus Dessert 🌼🍊
This grapefruit marigold sorbet with lemon gel is a gorgeous blend of citrus brightness and gentle floral notes—exactly the kind of modern plated dessert that feels elegant yet refreshing. Served inside natural grapefruit bowls, each portion layers marigold sorbet, silky lemon gel, fresh aloe vera, and a finishing drizzle of olive oil. The result? A visually striking, restaurant-style dessert that tastes as vibrant as it looks.
Why This Dessert Works 🍋✨
The star is the marigold sorbet, built on a balanced citrus base and stabilised with super neutrose for perfect scoopability. Blending fresh marigolds directly into the chilled sorbet mixture infuses a subtle, honeyed floral aroma.
Meanwhile, the lemon gel adds an intense but smooth acidity thanks to the clean set achieved with agar. Once blended, it pipes beautifully—ideal for modern plating.
Fresh grapefruit supremes and aloe vera cubes bring a natural juiciness and gentle crunch. The final drizzle of good olive oil ties everything together, adding richness without overpowering the delicate flavours.
What to Expect in Each Bite 🍨🌿
- Citrus brightness from grapefruit and lemon
- Soft floral sweetness from marigold petals
- Cool, creamy sorbet texture
- Gel dots that melt into the fruit
- Aromatic lift from marigold sprouts
- A silky finish thanks to fruity olive oil
It’s light, refreshing, and beautifully balanced—perfect for warm-weather dinners or when your menu needs a refined, clean-flavoured finale.
Tips for Success 💡
- Choose fully ripe grapefruits for natural sweetness.
- Chill your serving bowls for a more stable sorbet.
- For the best plating results, blend the lemon gel until completely smooth.
Plating Inspiration 🍊✨
Arrange the grapefruit and aloe neatly, add small dots of lemon gel around the bowl, and top everything with a smooth quenelle of marigold sorbet. Finish with micro herbs or marigold sprouts for a fresh, garden-like appearance.
Make-Ahead Guidance ⏰
Both the sorbet and lemon gel can be prepared in advance, making this an excellent dessert for entertaining. Simply assemble right before serving for the best textures and colours.
Enjoy crafting this elegant citrus creation—it’s a celebration of freshness, florals, and modern plating in every chilled spoonful. 🍋🌼🍊
Grapefruit Marigold Sorbet with Lemon Gel
JojoMBright grapefruit bowls filled with floral marigold sorbet, silky lemon gel and aloe vera, finished with marigold sprouts and olive oil for a refined dessert.
Chef's Tips
Use fully ripe, sweet grapefruits so their natural juices balance the floral marigold sorbet.
Chill the serving bowls before plating to keep the sorbet from melting too quickly.
Blend the lemon gel until completely smooth so the dots pipe cleanly on the plate.
Tools Used
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Ingredients
Marigold sorbet
Lemon gel
Assembly
Instructions
Marigold sorbet
- 1
In a medium saucepan, combine the water, lemon juice and orange juice.
- 2
Whisk in the superfine sugar, super neutrose and glucose powder until fully dissolved.
- 3
Bring the mixture just to a boil, then remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature.
- 4
Refrigerate the base for about 3 hours until thoroughly chilled.
- 5
Add the marigolds to the cold base and blend with an immersion blender until the petals are finely dispersed.
- 6
Churn in an ice cream maker until softly set.
- 7
Transfer the sorbet to a freezer-safe container and freeze for 12–24 hours.
Lemon gel
- 1
Combine the lemon juice and water in a small saucepan.
- 2
Mix the superfine sugar and agar powder together.
- 3
Whisk the sugar–agar mixture into the lemon liquid.
- 4
Bring to a full boil and cook for 2 minutes.
- 5
Pour into a shallow container, cool, then refrigerate until set.
- 6
Blend until smooth and transfer to a piping bag or squeeze bottle.
Assembly
- 1
Segment the grapefruits into clean supremes.
- 2
Cut the aloe vera pulp into small cubes and drain well.
- 3
Add grapefruit and aloe cubes to each serving bowl.
- 4
Pipe or spoon dots of lemon gel around the fruit.
- 5
Add a quenelle of marigold sorbet in the centre.
- 6
Garnish with marigold sprouts and drizzle with olive oil.
Comments & Reviews
Ana
10/3/2025
Perfect for a summer dinner party. The lemon gel dots make it look so professional.
Marco
7/22/2025
Loved the contrast of the cold sorbet with the grapefruit. I replaced aloe vera with pear and it still worked great.
Lena
4/10/2025
The marigold flavour is so delicate and floral. It looks restaurant-level but was surprisingly manageable.
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Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 plated dessert
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
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