Strawberry Lemonade Granita

I find that no Fourth of july celebration is complete without some form of a frozen treat, and my strawberry Lemonade Granita is perfect for adults and kids alike. A granita, an Italian dessert, is similar to a sorbet, but has a bit more of a crystalline texture. It’s been a favorite of mine since I was little, and it seems like it takes a lot of time, but really it’s one of the easiest recipes I know.

 

Strawberry Lemonade Granita

 

Ingredients

 

2 cups of water

1 cup of sugar

1 ½ cups strawberries

The juice of one lemon

The zest of one lemon

 

 

To make the puree

 

Blend together the lemon and strawberries

 

To make the simple syrup

 

1. Combine the water and sugar in a saucepan
2. Simmer on a medium heat until the sugar dissolves

 

To make the granita

1. Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the puree and lemon zest
2. Allow the mixture to rest for fifteen minutes in the saucepan, before straining into a flat-bottomed glass dish of any shape
3. Allow mixture to rest in dish for fifteen minutes
4. Cover and freeze for thirty minutes
5. After thirty minutes, use a fork to thoroughly stir the mixture, scraping down the sides
6. Repeat this process every thirty minutes for 3-4 hours(or until the granita is frozen) to prevent ice crystals