Watermelon Granita
If there is something that screams Summertime, it has got to be a granita. A granita is really a fancy term for delicious shaved ice, originating in Italy. The ingredients are ever so simple and the end result is a really cold cup or bowl of fresh, and fruity ice. Granitas can really be anything you put your mind on, whether it be raspberry, strawberry, or in my case a watermelon granita.
I will admit that I typically do not eat watermelon, but a recent stop at the grocery store really attracted me to the seedless watermelon. For one, I knew my daughter would love it, and I wanted to make another attempt at my boys trying watermelon. For some odd reason, both of my boys refuse to eat watermelon. So what a better idea to make a granita and see if they would go that route. Still failed.
The boys really missed out as this granita was super refreshing on a hot July afternoon.
Ingredients:
- 1 large seedless watermelon, cleaned and rind removed
- 1 lime, zest and juice
- Simple Syrup (see below)
- Mint leaves (optional)
Begin by making the simple syrup. Take 3/4 cup of sugar and 1 1/2 cup of water and bring to a boil, making sure the sugar gets dissolved. Remove this from the heat and let it cool.
During this time, break down your watermelon. Place this in a food processor and add the lime juice and zest, and simple syrup. Pulse everything down in the food processor.
Transfer the mixture into a shallow baking dish and place uncovered in the freezer. About every 30 minutes, check on the mixture, using a fork to stir the granita mixture. Continue to freeze and repeat the process, for up to 3 hours. Don’t worry if you do not have this time. If it hardens completely, just take it out of the freezer and let it sit on the counter for about 20-30 minutes, then scrape with a spoon.
Serve in a nice glass, add some chopped mint, and serve with a spoon.
Fresh melon flavor, cold and refreshing. Enjoy.
