Nothing says cool on a hot summer day like a granita parfait. With icy crystals of canteloupe and watermelon layered in a pretty glass, it’s a delight to behold and as refreshing as it looks.
(Chaise lawn chair and reading material optional.)
Granitas are a perfect way to extend summer’s bounty when you find yourself with more melon than you can consume. A quick whirl in the food processor and a few hours (or overnight) in the freezer and it’s good to go. The only utensils required are a fork to scrape the frozen fruit into ice-shaved happiness and a spoon to enjoy the results.
I don’t have an actual recipe (amounts are dependent upon the quantity of fruit you’re using), but here’s a basic “how to”:
Fresh Fruit Granita
Cubes of fresh melon (in this case, watermelon and canteloupe)
Sugar to taste, if desired (I didn’t)
Remove seeds and/or rind (if any) from melon cubes. Pulse small batches in a food processor until liquified. (Note to self: Liquified fruit really gets to whirlin’!) (Fairly quickly, I might add…) Be mindful of your food processor.
Transfer fruit liquid to a shallow glass pan or large plastic bowl; cover and freeze until firm. When mixture is frozen, “scrape” the top with a fork until it yields an adequate amount of crystals for your serving needs. (Note to self: use a large enough bowl so you’ll be able to scrape it without flinging fruit crystals all over your kitchen counter…)
Store the ”scraped granita crystals” in the freezer in separate (covered) containers until serving time. Spoon into champagne flutes (layered as desired) and serve immediately. And I do mean immediately.
Not only is this a refreshing treat, it’s also a challenge to you to invent a summer dessert with 6 ingredients or less — a fun prospect from my blogroll friend at Family Fresh Cooking. Marla’s also offering a chance to win some cool cash (or credit, as it were) so don’t delay… the deadline is July 22nd. Go, see, enjoy!
In the meantime, I’ve got to get back to my granita…
Aaahh…
Enjoying life one frozen delight at a time,
~ Kim
This granita would make me happy every day of the year! I could be wearing a snowsuit and still want some. :)
By: Maureen on July 18, 2011
at 4:59 pm
Spoken like a true Minnesotan — or an honorary one. :) Thanks, Maureen!
~ Kim
By: okielicious on July 18, 2011
at 5:26 pm
MMM, Sounds good! Have to eat fast so that it doesn’t melt in this crazy heat! :D Thanks for the idea, if all works well I’ll have watermelon from my garden soon. . .
By: Missy on July 18, 2011
at 7:08 pm
Hey, Missy! “Crazy heat” was an apt description for our Okie weather these days — WHEW! (My granita was more of a “slurpy” by the time I got finished taking photos — but it still tasted good.) :) Blessings on your watermelon patch!
~ Kim
By: okielicious on July 18, 2011
at 7:14 pm
Oh this summer has been so HOT! This treat looks like a fantastic way to cool off. Thanks for sharing.
By: MelissaOklahoma on July 18, 2011
at 8:30 pm
I watched the thermometer climb to 116 on my way back to work at noon yesterday (waiting at the stoplight) — “90″ is going to feel like a THAW…
Thanks for stoppin’ by, Melissa — stay cool! :)
~ Kim
By: okielicious on July 18, 2011
at 9:56 pm
Loving the look of your Granita….Very pleasing to the eyes & of course your mouth!
Thanks for ur comments for my dish as well!! We do play the popular Rummy and Twenty Eight, rarely poker!! ;)
By: Rohini on July 19, 2011
at 3:08 am
I tried to play Texas Hold’Em once but I was so terrible at it, my family told me to go bake brownies. They know I shuffle ingredients better than cards. :)
By: okielicious on July 19, 2011
at 4:52 am
So refreshing, perfect for here as well. I will have to think of something creative with 6 ingredients or less…. :) Have a beautiful day Kim!
By: Isabelle at home on July 19, 2011
at 5:19 am
Thanks, Isabelle! You, too!
By: okielicious on July 19, 2011
at 6:34 am
Yum! We are a big fan of Granita’s around here!
Beautiful pictures :)
By: Heather Tallman/basilmomma on July 19, 2011
at 7:12 am
Thank you, Heather! It was fun trying to take pictures before they melted. :)
By: okielicious on July 19, 2011
at 6:26 pm
The layers of color are so pretty! I’ll stay focused on the thought of this icy treat while I’m enduring the hot commute home after work . . .
By: Jenna on July 19, 2011
at 10:17 am
It’s hot everywhere it seems, but rush hour in the big city … ugh. Hope the “visual” helped!
~ Kim
By: okielicious on July 19, 2011
at 6:32 pm
How beautiful! Reminds me of the sunset! And Lord knows I’ll drink/eat anything out of a pretty champagne flute :)
By: DessertForTwo on July 21, 2011
at 8:37 am
Made me smile, Christina! :)
~ Kim
By: okielicious on July 21, 2011
at 7:14 pm
This looks delicious but how I am feeling now I just want to press it against my forehead. I should not be complaining my mother in Ireland had to put in heat the other night….
BTW those layers are great thank you for sharing at my virtual picnic
By: Mike@The Culinary Lens on July 21, 2011
at 2:00 pm
Do I detect a trip home in the near future? I had fun at your picnic! :)
~ Kim
By: okielicious on July 21, 2011
at 7:16 pm
This looks delicious – so pretty!
By: melissa@IWasBornToCook on July 21, 2011
at 7:18 pm
Thank you, Melissa! I’m inspired to try more parfait combos!
~ Kim
By: okielicious on July 21, 2011
at 8:22 pm
Wow – that is absolutely perfect! I love granita and the colors and flavors are incredible! Beautiful pictures…
By: Ann on July 23, 2011
at 6:38 pm
Thanks so much, Ann! I was thinking honeydew and canteloupe would be a good combo (and pretty!), too. Next time, right?! :)
~ Kim
By: okielicious on July 24, 2011
at 2:33 pm
This sounds so good and refreshing! I could use one about 5 minutes ago!
By: Cassie on July 25, 2011
at 5:16 pm
Glad you liked it, Cassie! This has been quite the “warm” summer, eh? Thanks for your comments!
~ Kim
By: okielicious on July 26, 2011
at 6:12 am
That is one gorgeous looking granita! :)
By: Nelly Rodriguez on July 29, 2011
at 3:47 pm
I’d be happy to bring one down to the Dominican Republic for you… :) I’m enjoying your photos and “food lessons” so much, Nelly! Blogs really do make this a “small world.”
~ Kim
By: okielicious on July 29, 2011
at 6:36 pm
[...] Popular Post. Granita Parfait ~ The little champagne flute that [...]
By: Everything But The Kitchen Sink « a little lunch on August 22, 2011
at 2:33 pm
It’s so hot in Singapore, I could really use some of these. The Granita looks soooooooo refreshing! Yum!
By: Shirley Tay on August 23, 2011
at 10:16 pm
The heat is finally letting up here (thankfully), but granitas are good any time. Wish I could send one to you, but all you’d get is a puddle! :)
~ Kim
By: Kimby on August 25, 2011
at 6:01 am