GMA Recipe: Granita: A Cool Summer Drink

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Granita: A Cool Summer Drink
From Sara Moulton and Gourmet Magazine
1997

How would you like to make a cool dessert using little more than a fork and your freezer? It is not ice cream or sorbet, but Granita, an elegant treat that has been on the table since the time of the Roman Empire. Sara Moulton from Gourmet Magazine offers a suprisingly simple recipe from "Sorbets and Granitas."

A granita is a refreshing summer dessert. It is icier, lower in calories, and healthier than sorbet or ice cream. Granita consists of fruit, flavoring, sugar, and water. It makes a wonderful homemade dessert because there is no special or modern equipment required, like an ice cream maker. All you need is: a refrigerator, freezer, metal baking pan, blender, (or food processor) and a fork. For some flavors of granita, like the cappucino we are making, you do not even need a blender.

A granita is so versatile that they are elegant enough to serve for a dinner party and easy enough to make with your kids.

Our first flavor is watermelon:

Buy a 3-lb watermelon and remove the rind. Seed and chop the watermelon into small chunks. (Apx 5 cups)

Place 3 lbs watermelon, freshly squeezed lemon juice, (apx 3 lemons) and sugar into a food processor. Puree the mixture until smooth.

Remove top of food processor and add 3 tbsp campari and 1/8 tsp salt. Pour the watermelon mixture into a chilled rectangular metal baking pan. Place in freezer for 30 minutes or until ice crystals form around the sides and bottom of pan.

Gently "rake" until the frozen and unfrozen elements are evenly combined. Repeat the "raking" process every 20 minutes until the ice has formed a uniform consistency of soft crushed ice. The entire process will take about two hours. (Some freezers may vary)

Next up, Cappuccino:

The cappuccino is even easier to make than the watermelon. There is no need for a blender or food processor, all you need is leftover cold coffee, milk, sugar and water.

You can use your favorite coffee flavor. For the cappuccino granita, we will use cold espresso.

First we need to make a simple syrup. In a small saucepan, add equal parts of sugar and water. Bring to a boil and cool before using. Then add 1 1/4 cups cold brewed espresso, 1/4 cup whole milk (you can use skim milk if you prefer) and 1/4 cup simple syrup into a 9-inch square metal pan and stir to combine. Place the uncovered pan in the freezer. Freeze until solid. (Unlike other granitas, you only need to stir the ice mixture once. If you are not going to use the granita right away, cover it well with plastic wrap or foil.)

Use the edge of a metal spoon or the tines of a fork to scrape the mixture into granita. Allow it to mound in the pan. It should gain a texture of grainy shaved ice. Serve immediately.

Serve granitas in a martini glass. Top the cappuccino granita with shaved chocolate and cookies. Top the fruit-flavored granitas with fresh fruit. To create a sparkling drink, fill a tall glass with granita and top with seltzer or sparkling water.

Try making Granitas with other flavors, like nectarine, honeydew, lemon, and plum.