Watermelon Granita

Who doesn’t love watermelon? It’s one of the rewards of a hot summer day. With its juice dripping down your elbows, it’s a happy connection to childhood. Seed-spitting contest, anyone?

Granita is sweet enough for kids, sophisticated enough for adults — this dessert is a hit for all ages.

WATERMELON GRANITA
Makes about 1 quart

I’ll take watermelon any way I can get it, and this is one of the best ways.

Ingredients
1 cup sugar
½ cup water
1 small watermelon (4–5 pounds)

Prepare

1. To make a simple syrup, bring the sugar and water to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring to dissolve the sugar, about 2 minutes. Set aside to cool completely.
2. While the syrup cools, prepare the watermelon. Wash and dry the fruit. Cut away the rind, and remove any large black seeds. Cut into 2-inch chunks, and purée in a food processor until smooth.
3. Combine the puréed fruit and the syrup in a shallow baking dish. Freeze for 2 hours, stirring every 20 minutes with a fork to create a slushy texture.

Preserve
Freeze: Keeps frozen for 2 weeks. If it freezes solid before serving, let it sit at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes and stir with a fork to regain texture.

Alternate Option
Substitute one small cantaloupe for the watermelon.

Putting Granita to Work
Granita is a really beautiful and refreshing dessert. You can up the ante on its visual appeal by serving it in a pretty glass dish or a classic martini or champagne glass.

Recipe excerpted from Put ’em Up! ©2010 by Sherri Brooks Vinton. All rights reserved.

Sherri Brooks Vinton is the author of Put ’em Up!, Put ’em Up! Fruit, and The Real Food Revival. Her writing, talks, and hands-on workshops teach how to find, cook, and preserve local, seasonal, farm-friendly food. Her website can be found at www.sherribrooksvinton.com and her preserving & cooking demos for Put ’em Up! Fruit can be found on our YouTube channel.

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Want more cool watermelon recipes? Try this Watermelon Mint Cordial from Homemade Soda. This recipe can be served with or without alcohol. It’s a unique beverage that is sure to refresh and impress your poolside guests!

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