- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/3 cup dried apricots, chopped
- 1 1/4 lb firm-ripe apricots (7 large)
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/8 teaspoon almond extract
- Special equipment: an ice cream maker
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Bring sugar, water, and dried apricots to a boil in a 3-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring, until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and let stand until apricots are softened, about 1 hour.
- While dried apricots are standing, roast whole fresh apricots in a small roasting pan in middle of oven until soft, about 1 hour. Cool in pan, then peel and pit when cool enough to handle.
- Purée dried apricot mixture, roasted apricots, lemon juice, and almond extract in a blender until very smooth, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Force purée through a fine sieve into a bowl, pressing hard on solids and then discarding them. Chill purée, covered, until cold, at least 2 hours.
- Freeze in ice cream maker, then transfer to an airtight container and put in freezer to harden.