Italian ice, known in Italy as granita, is a wonderful summer treat. But you don't have to visit your local gelato shop to enjoy a taste of this refreshing dessert.
You can easily make Italian ice at home. Just as long as you follow these simple guidelines:
How To Make Italian Ice At Home
The good news about homemade granita is that you won't need any special equipment to accomplish the task. Do you have a fork, a pot and a flat metal container? Then you are all set!
Aside from flavor variations, all Italian ice recipes are made in the same fashion. Here are the steps you must follow to make Italian ice at home:
- combine equal parts of water and sugar, bring to a boil and allow to cool
- add fruit or desired flavorings to the sugar mixture (fruit will have to be pureed)
- mix the ingredients together and transfer to a metal baking dish place in the freezer
- freeze for at least 4 hours, ensuring you stir the mix with a fork every 30 minutes for the first 3 hours
That last instruction is the vital component in making granita. The gorgeous ice crystals form thanks to the constant stirring as the mixture freezes. Then it is scraped one more time before being served.
Italian Ice Recipe Ideas
Watermelon Italian Ice
Fresh watermelon, rosewater, fresh lemon juice and sugar are the ingredients for this tasty granita recipe.
Coffee Granita
This coffee granita is made extra special with the addition of whipped cream infused with amaretto. Add a dollop when serving it.
Find the recipe for coffee granita here.
Lemon Italian Ice
This is a classic Sicilian recipe enjoyed by many. It's effortless to make and tastes so good. You could easily substitute the lemon for fresh lime juice.
Lime and Vodka Granita
Infusing granita with alcochol is tricky because it may not freeze well. That can be remedied with the proper ration of sugar and alcohol.
Follow the instructions in this recipe to get it just right.
Strawberry Granita
Make strawberry granita a decadent treat by serving it atop vanilla-scented whipped cream.
Orange Granita with White Coffee Cream
Another delicious combination of granita and cream. This time the recipe calls for whipping up a white coffee cream as a base.
