Watermelon Granita- No Ice Cream Maker
Refreshing and delicious, this watermelon granita is easy to make. No ice cream maker required.
Sorbet or Granita
I used to call this watermelon sorbet and go through a lot of hoops (repeated use of the blender) to create a smooth sorbet. Now I call it granita – same great flavour, just a little more ice crystally. Sorbet and granita are very similar in that they are both dairy free, frozen fruit desserts, but there are subtle differences.
Sorbet – a much smoother, denser consistency which you achieve by scraping more frequently, blending several times and using more sugar but less liquid
Granita – a looser, granular consistency similar to shaved ice which you can achieve with only scraping once or twice during the process.
Alcohol and Sugar
In this recipe the watermelon is mixed with alcohol and sugar. Both add flavour and prevent the watermelon juice from freezing into a solid ice cube that’s difficult to scrape. If you reduce the sugar or alcohol just be prepared to scrape a little more often so the ice remains easy to scrape.
You can skip the alcohol altogether if you wish.
Recipe for Watermelon Granita
Watermelon Granita – No Ice Cream Maker
Ingredients
- 8 cups seedless watermelon cubes
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 Tbsp Grand Marnier (optional)
- 2 Tbsp Lemon Juice
- 1/4 Tsp salt
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in blender and puree until smooth.
- Pour into a 9 x 13″ baking pan or glass dish.
- Freeze for 3 hours, stirring and scraping ice crystals from the side of the pan every 60 minutes.
- To serve, rest on counter for about 5 minutes then scoop into individual serving dishes and enjoy! Or make a refreshing beverage by putting granita in a glass and pouring sparkling water over top.
- For a finer texture, put the frozen mix in the blender and pulse several times to make small ice pieces (not liquid) return to freezer and scrape after 60 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Make a Watermelon Granita Slurpee
Simply scoop watermelon granita into a glass, slowly pour in sparkling water and a half tablespoon of lime juice. Stir and enjoy. Just watch out for brain freeze!
More Watermelon Tips & Recipes
How to Select the Best Watermelon
How to Cut Watermelon – Two Ways
Watermelon Cucumber Feta Salad
How will you beat the heat this summer? Comment below or if you make this recipe, share your photos with me on Instagram @getgettys or Facebook @GettyStewart.HomeEconomist
Getty Stewart is a Professional Home Economist, speaker, frequent media guest and writer dedicated to putting good food on tables and agendas. She is the author of several recipe books on enjoying and preserving fruit, Founder of Fruit Share, a mom and veggie gardener. Sign up to get articles by Getty delivered to your inbox. You’ll get recipes, practical tips and great food information like this.
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