Makes 1 1/2 Pints 
                    
                
                
                    
                        
                            - Active time:30 min
- Start to finish:6 1/2 hr 
 
            
                
                    
                    MATTHEW LONDON
                
            
            
                
                
                
    
      
          
          
          
              
              
              
          
          
          
          
          
              
              
              July 2006
            
          
          
      
  
                
                
            
            
            
                The deep caramel flavor in this ice cream will hypnotize you. And the optional garnish is actually a must; the combination of salty and sweet is too intriguing to pass up.
            
            
            
            
            
                
                    
                    
                    
                        
                            
                            
                            
                                
                                    
                                        - 
                                            1 
                                            cup
                                            sugar
                                            
                                        
- 
                                            3/4 
                                            teaspoon
                                            salt
                                            
                                        
- 
                                            1 
                                            cup
                                            heavy cream 
                                            
                                        
- 
                                            1 
                                            cup
                                            whole milk
                                            
                                        
- 
                                            6 
                                            
                                            large egg yolks 
                                            
                                        
- 
                                            2
                                            tablespoons
                                            light corn syrup
                                            
                                        
 
                    
                 
            
            
            
            
            
                
            
            
            
            
                
                    
                    
                    
                        
                            
                                
                                
                                
                                    
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                                            Cook sugar and salt in a dry 4 to 5quart heavy pot over moderate heat, undisturbed, until it begins to melt. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally with a longhandled wooden spoon, until sugar is melted into a deep golden caramel, 10 to 12 minutes. 
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                                            Carefully pour in cream (caramel will harden and steam vigorously). Simmer over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until caramel is dissolved. Whisk in milk and return just to a boil, then remove from heat. 
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                                            Whisk together yolks and corn syrup in a large bowl until smooth, then add half of hot caramel cream in a slow stream, whisking until combined well. Add yolk mixture in a slow stream to caramel cream in pot, whisking, then cook over low heat, stirring constantly with wooden spoon, until mixture is thickened and thermometer registers 170 to 175ºF, about 3 minutes. 
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                                            Immediately pour caramel custard through a fine-mesh sieve into a metal bowl set in a larger bowl of ice and cold water. Cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. 
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                                             Remove custard from ice bath and chill, covered, until cold, about 1 hour. Freeze in an ice cream maker, then transfer to an airtight container and put in freezer to harden, at least 4 hours. 
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                                            Sprinkle scoops of ice cream with sea salt if desired. 
 
                        
                    
                    Cooks’ Notes: - Custard can be chilled up to 1 day.
- Ice cream keeps 1 week.