06 Nov Shaved not Stirred
Icey..Shaved..Minty
Three words that come to mind on a hot Summers day.
Don’t act like you don’t think the same.
I’ve been known to crave a sweet thing from time to time. But when it comes to making something at home I like to keep it real. By real I mean easy, Reeeall Easy. The last thing I want to do on a hot summer day is stand in a hot kitchen and make a dessert, but I still would like something slightly sweet to satisfy my urge for something cold and refreshing.
Whats easier than freezing some juice, and shaving it? Not much. This is known as a granita. It’s pretty much frozen flavored ice. Not much to it.
You basically take some sugar, water and any other flavoring you like, melt it down then freeze it, then take a spoon and shave the ice so you create a snow-like consistency and serve immediately.
I like to make this dessert in the summer so I have the advantage of using beautiful summer fruits as an accompaniment to the granita that require almost zero effort. Just slicing and serving.
Mint is a wonderfully refreshing herb that will add brightness and a cool flavor to the granita. You could add anything to your granita base just as long as there aren’t any large chunks of fruit in it. If you are using any fruit it would be a good idea to place in a blender and get it to a smooth consistency before you freeze just so it’s easier to shave when it’s frozen.
Got some pulpy orange juice? Freeze it and shave it! Leftover Sangria? Freeze it and shave it! Extra chamomile raspberry tea? Freeze it and shave it!
You get the idea. Pretty much anything an be made into a granita, it’s not difficult, and takes little effort. Below is one of my favorite flavor combinations for a cool and refreshing granita.
Recipe
1 C Sugar
7 C Water
1 Bunch Chopped Mint
2 Nectarines
2 White Peaches
1 Pint Raspberries
Method
Bring 1 cup sugar and 2 cups of water to a simmer. (You just need the sugar to melt, should take no more than 10 minutes) This is called a simple syrup.
When your simple syrup is ready turn off heat and add chopped mint. Allow the mint to steep for 5 minutes.
In a shallow large pan (big enough to fit in your freezer) add the simple syrup and the remaining 5 cups of water. Mix and place in the freezer.
After frozen, take a spoon and scrape across the top of the ice creating snow-like ice crystals.
Scrape until you have a mountain of granita and put back in the freezer.
(You should work quickly because well…it is ice, and it is hot out)
Wash and slice your fruit however size you like.
Take the prettiest bowl, martini glass, crystal snifter that you own and place some of your granita in there with your sliced fruits and enjoy.
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