A granita is a frozen dessert perfect for hot summer days. The only ingredients you need are ice, sugar, food coloring and a flavoring. The quickest way to make one is to use a blender, but if you have an ice cream maker you can get a creamier product. You can also make a slush thanks to the freezer alone.
Ingrediants
With the Blender
- 200 g of sugar
- 480 ml of water
- 400 g of ice
- 7 g of food flavoring
- 5-10 drops of food coloring
With the ice cream maker
- 200 g of sugar
- 480 ml of cold water
- 7 g of food flavoring
- 5-10 drops of food coloring
With the freezer
- 200 g of sugar
- 1 liter of cold water
- 7 g of food flavoring
- 5-10 drops of food coloring
Steps
Method 1 of 3: With the Blender
Step 1. Dissolve 200g of sugar in 480ml of water
Proceed to this operation at the beginning of the process to avoid obtaining a granita with a grainy consistency. Pour both ingredients into a bowl and mix until you no longer see any sugar crystals.
Step 2. Blend the solution with 400g of ice
Simply pour both the sugared water and the ice into the appliance. This method is excellent if the blender is very powerful to be able to finely chop the ice, to obtain the classic consistency of granita.
- It is advisable to do some tests with a few ice cubes to check how many the appliance is able to chop; if you find that it is not powerful enough, try another technique.
- If you love a little more liquid granita, add another 120 ml of water. If, on the other hand, you prefer to "nibble" the ice fragments, reduce the total amount of water by 120 ml.
Step 3. Incorporate the colorant and aroma
If you want to prepare granita like the one in the ice cream parlor, add 7 g of the aroma you prefer (such as raspberry, strawberry, lemon, lime, coconut or vanilla) and 5 or more drops of food coloring. Use a long-handled spoon to mix everything. You can increase the doses of the aroma or dye to taste.
- Would you like to try a cola granita or the flavor of your favorite drink? Then try freezing the drink in ice cubes. Replace the water and ice with the liquid drink and frozen cubes, and do not add any more sugar.
- Don't have time to buy the aroma? Then you can also use a powdered beverage preparation, so you can replace both the aroma and the dye with a single product.
Step 4. Blend everything at high speed
Depending on the power of the blender, it may take only a few pulses or several minutes to obtain the typical consistency of granita. Keep working the ice until you get the result you want.
- It is worth stopping the appliance from time to time and stirring the mixture with a long-handled spoon; in this way you bring the ice not yet crushed towards the blades.
- If the appliance is not powerful enough to work all the doses recommended in this recipe, then transfer the ingredients, a few at a time, to a food processor and prepare the granita in batches.
Step 5. Taste it
If you are satisfied with the flavor and the degree of sweetness, then it is ready. Add more sugar, coloring or flavoring to make the necessary corrections. If you are integrating the ingredients, remember to mix them.
Step 6. Enjoy the granita
Divide it into several glasses and drink it through a straw. The doses of this recipe allow you to prepare two large portions or four small ones.
Method 2 of 3: With the Ice Cream Maker
Step 1. Dissolve 200 g of sugar in 1 liter of water
Pour both ingredients into a bowl and mix them until you notice no more sugar crystals. In this way the consistency of the granita will be better.
Step 2. Incorporate the food coloring and aroma
Use 7 g of your favorite food flavor and 5-10 drops of a matching dye. The following combinations allow you to prepare delicious and beautiful slushes to look at:
- Aroma of raspberries and blue dye.
- Aroma of vanilla and cherry with red coloring.
- Lemon and lime aroma with yellow and green dye.
- Aroma of orange and orange coloring.
Step 3. Transfer the mixture to the ice cream maker and work it for 20 minutes
Since the granita does not have to become solid like ice cream, a short period of time is enough - 20 minutes should be enough. After this time, check that it has reached the right consistency; if necessary, leave the granita in the ice cream maker for a while longer.
Step 4. With a ladle, transfer the mixture into the glasses
The doses of this recipe are enough for two large portions or four small ones. Enjoy it with a straw.
Method 3 of 3: With the Freezer
Step 1. Dissolve 200 g of sugar in 1 liter of water
Put both ingredients in a bowl and mix until all the sugar crystals disappear. In this way the granita will not become grainy, freezing.
You can replace the sugared water with an equal amount of soft drink. You can prepare a granita with any type of cola, with fruit juice, with chocolate milk and even with coffee
Step 2. Incorporate the aroma and food coloring
You will need 7 g of flavoring and 5-10 drops of dye. Taste the mixture and adjust the quantities according to your tastes.
- If you love creamy slushes, add a tablespoon or two of cream; it goes perfectly especially with the aroma of vanilla and orange.
- If you want something special, try adding 15ml of juice and 5g of lemon zest.
Step 3. Transfer the mixture to a shallow pan
The walls should be a few inches high to prevent the liquid from overflowing.
Step 4. Cover the pan with cling film
If the pan has a lid instead, use that.
Step 5. Freeze the mixture for two hours, stirring it every 30 minutes
Each time you mix, you break up the ice crystals that form. This process allows you to obtain the classic consistency of granita. After about 3 hours of this work, your frozen dessert should be ready.
Step 6. Transfer the granita into the glasses with the help of a spoon
The doses of this recipe are enough for two large portions or four small ones. Enjoy your refreshing preparation.
Advice
- Always taste the mixture to be sure of its flavor and degree of sweetness before freezing it.
- If you don't have a blender and you don't want to wait two hours for the slush to form in the freezer, then use an immersion blender; it works in much the same way, although you will get a slush with a slightly more liquid consistency.
