Master how to make Strawberry Granita in just 10 minutes of prep time. Beat the heat with 5 simple ingredients for a refreshing summer delight!
- 1 cup (8 fl oz/240 ml) water
- ½ cup (4 oz/115 g) granulated sugar
- 6 ½ cups (2 lbs/923 g) hulled strawberries, fresh or frozen (thawed if frozen)
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice, or to taste
- Pinch of salt
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Make a simple syrup: In a small saucepan, combine the water and sugar over medium heat and cook until the sugar is dissolved (about 2 minutes). Let cool for 5 minutes.
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In a blender or food processor, blend strawberries, simple syrup, lemon juice and salt until pureed.
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Taste the mixutre! it should taste sweet, a little tart and intensely of strawberries. Add a squeeze more lemon juice or a touch more sugar if needed, and blend to combine.
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Strain the mixture through a fine sieve and directly into a 9x13 inch (23x33 cm) metal baking pan. Place in the freezer.
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Every hour, run a fork through the puree, scraping up the frozen bits from the edges and stirring to incorporate them with the still liquid mixture.
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After about 4 or 5 hours, the granita should be fully frozen in flakes. Cover and store for up to 3 days.
- You can use this recipe and replace the strawberries with any in-season juicy fruit of your choice to make a different flavor. Be sure to taste the puree before you freeze, as you might need to adjust the amount of sugar or lemon juice.
- When tasting the puree before freezing, be sure the flavor is intense. Freezing will dull the taste a bit so the more flavorful the puree, the better granita you will have. If your fruit is not quite at its peak, a little extra lemon and sugar can help.
- If, after a few days, your granita has frozen into a solid block, you can re-scrape it with a fork, let it soften for a few minutes and run it through a blender, or re-melt it and start the freezing process again.
- Out of ice? Add a spoonful of this to your favorite cocktail for a fresh, summery drink. Tequila and vodka would be perfect.
- Go the extra mile and serve granita with a big dollop of our 2-ingredient vanilla ice cream and a few fresh mint leaves on top. You get refreshing, sweet creamy, soft, and crunchy. The best of both worlds!