Now, at dwelling I take that all-fruit ethos a step additional, making my Italian ices (granita) completely of recent fruit, with no sugar added in any respect, a tack I discover makes them much more fresh-tasting and refreshing. The important thing to doing that efficiently is to make use of fruit that’s already inherently candy, corresponding to melon or mango. If you begin with such candy fruit, the combination requires a vivid steadiness of tangy citrus. And the addition of a recent, delicate herb corresponding to mint, basil or cilantro provides an additional layer of cool, summer-y sophistication.
On this recipe I used honeydew, however be happy to substitute cantaloupe or watermelon — the necessary factor is to make use of the sweetest melon you’ll find. However even when, regardless of your greatest efforts, you get one that’s on the tasteless facet (it occurs to the very best of us,) one way or the other the ensuing ices nonetheless wind up tasting good ultimately, so go together with it regardless.
Simply mix the melon with a handful of recent mint leaves (or basil or cilantro), some lime (or lemon) zest and a squeeze of its juice. Begin with a tablespoon of citrus juice and add extra to style as desired. Then pour the combination right into a shallow dish and place it within the freezer.
You must stir it with a fork each 20 minutes or so for at the least 3 hours, scraping the ice crystals as they kind, so select a time to make it when you realize you’ll be dwelling for some time. As soon as completed, the granita requires a bit of thaw time to melt sufficient to be re-scraped so it may be scooped.
Served with a sprig of mint, I can’t consider a cooler strategy to take pleasure in recent fruit.
