Italian Granita is a refreshing, semi-frozen dessert with a unique and delicate texture, similar to sorbet. Originating in Sicily, this delightful treat is made with just a few simple ingredients, including fresh lemons, sugar, and water and is a staple in Italian cuisine, perfect for a hot summer day. Whether you're looking for a light dessert, a refreshing snack, or a unique way to cool off, this article will provide you with the best recipe to create the perfect Italian Granita lemon ice cream at home.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
ITALIAN LEMON ICE (GRANITA)
Lemon granita is easily the most popular of all Italian ices, and with good reason. On a hot summer's day, no refreshment beats it tangy, revitalizing taste. Prep time included chill time. From The Mediterranean Vegan Kitchen.
Provided by Bev I Am
Categories Frozen Desserts
Time 5h20m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Combine 2 cups of the water with the sugar in a medium nonreactive saucepan; bring to a simmer over medium heat.
- Cook, stirring constantly, until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Add the salt, stir, and remove the pan from the heat.
- Stir in the remaining water and let cool to room temperature.
- Cover and refrigerate for a minimum of 1 hour.
- Meanwhile, place a shallow metal 2 1/2 qt container (such as a large cake pan) in the freezer to chill.
- Add the lemon juice, lemon peel, and extract to the chilled sugar mixture; stir until well blended.
- Pour into the chilled metal pan.
- Place the pan in the freezer for 30-60 minutes, or until ice crystals form around the edges.
- Stir the ice crystals into the center of the pan and return to the freezer.
- Repeat every 30 minutes, or until all the liquid is crystallized but not frozen solid, about 3 hours.
- To serve, scoop the granita into chilled dessert bowls or goblets.
- (If the granita has become too hard, scrape it with a large metal spoon to break up the ice crystals.) Serve at once.
- Advance Preparation: The granita can be stored, covered, for up to four days in the freezer, but it will have become frozen solid.
- To serve, either allow the granita to thaw in the refridgerator until you can scrape the crystals, or break it up into chunks and process with on/off motions in a food processor fitted with the knife blade until fairly smooth.
LEMON RICOTTA GRANITA
Provided by Giada De Laurentiis
Categories dessert
Time 5h25m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Stir the water and 3/4 cup of sugar in a medium saucepan over high heat just until the sugar dissolves. Whisk in the lemon juice. Pour the lemon mixture into an 8-inch square glass dish. Cover and freeze, stirring occasionally, until the liquid just becomes slushy, about 2 hours. Using a fork, scrape the granita every 30 minutes until it is completely made up of ice crystals. (The granita can be prepared up to 2 days ahead. Cover and keep frozen, and scrape every so often so that the crystals stay loose.)
- Whisk the ricotta, remaining sugar, and pinch of salt in a medium bowl to blend. Spoon the granita into dessert bowls. Top with a dollop of the ricotta. Zest the lemon peel over the desserts and serve.
ITALIAN GRANITA LEMON ICE CREAM
Many people think that Lemon Granita is similar to a Lemon sorbet. There is a main difference which is the fact that Lemon Granita has no eggs, no milk and no cream in it. Just lemon juice, lemon zest, water and sugar! In Southern Italy we have a granita for breakfast, aperitif, lunch and as an after siesta drink. The best lemon Granita is made with little sugar and a grated lemon zest in it! For breakfast we would have a Coffee Granita with a croissant (the Sicilian way); for aperitif the Lemon Granita; after the siesta the almond granita. There are many flavors you can choose: lemon, mint, coffee, strawberry, almond, kiwi, mandarin, prickly pears.
Provided by stile mediterraneo
Categories Frozen Desserts
Time 50m
Yield 10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Boil the sugar and water for 5 minutes. Then let the syrup cool down and add the lemon juice and grated lemon zest. Boil everything again. Let it cool down again and put it in the freezer in a metallic container. Turn the mixture while it is freezing every 20 minutes. The Granita will be ready after 3-4 hours.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 114.1, Fat 0.1, Sodium 2, Carbohydrate 29.7, Fiber 0.1, Sugar 28.8, Protein 0.1
LEMON GRANITA
Categories Dessert Freeze/Chill Kid-Friendly Low Sodium Wheat/Gluten-Free Lemon Summer Vegan Gourmet Fat Free Kidney Friendly Vegetarian Pescatarian Dairy Free Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free Kosher Small Plates
Yield Makes about 2 1/2 cups
Number Of Ingredients 3
Steps:
- With a vegetable peeler remove zest in long pieces from 2 lemons. Squeeze 1/2 cup juice from lemons.
- In a small heavy saucepan heat water and sugar, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Stir in zest and transfer syrup to a bowl to cool. Chill syrup, covered, until cold. Discard zest and stir in lemon juice.
- For eastern-Sicilian granita:
- Freeze lemon mixture in an ice-cream maker until spoonable but not crumbly and serve immediately.
- For western-Sicilian granita:
- Freeze lemon mixture in a metal bowl, stirring every 30 minutes to remove ice crystals from side of bowl, until liquid has become granular but is still slightly slushy, about 3 to 4 hours. Serve granita immediately.
COFFEE GRANITA
I'm showing you how to make this incredibly refreshing Italian treat. I'm not saying that a coffee granita is the best frozen dessert ever, and I'm not saying this is the best coffee dessert ever, but this might be the best frozen coffee dessert ever. The technique could not be any easier. Serve in a clear glass garnished with sweetened whipped cream and a pinch of cocoa.
Provided by Chef John
Categories Frozen Desserts
Time 11h20m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 3
Steps:
- Combine coffee, sugar, and coffee liqueur in a bowl with a whisk until sugar dissolves.
- Pour mixture into an 8x12- or 9x13-inch dish. Freeze, uncovered, until it just starts to get slushy around the outside, about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
- Take a fork and break the frozen pieces up, stirring into the liquid. Crush any large pieces with the back of the fork.
- Return to the freezer and repeat the process every 30 minutes until you've reached your desired consistency, about 4 to 5 times total.
- Serve immediately or return to the freezer and chill for 8 hours, or overnight, before serving for best results.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 97.9 calories, Carbohydrate 25 g, Fat 0 g, Protein 0.1 g, Sodium 2.4 mg
AUTHENTIC SICILIAN GRANITA AL LIMONE
Lemon granita is one of my favorite things about Sicily. It's easy to make at home if a trip to the island isn't possible. Using Meyer lemons, which tend to be sweeter than regular lemons, helps replicate the flavor of authentic Sicilian lemons. Serve as an after-dinner refresher or afternoon pick-me-up. And for a nice twist, add a small scoop to your iced tea, like they do in Sicily.
Provided by Buckwheat Queen
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 3h40m
Yield 10
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Pour water and sugar into a saucepan. Heat over medium, stirring until sugar melts; do not bring to a boil. Remove from heat when the sugar has completely dissolved and the water is no longer cloudy. Add lemon juice and stir until combined. Refrigerate until cold, about 30 minutes.
- Pour into a freezer-safe dish that has a tight lid. Cover and put into the freezer until it begins to freeze around the edges, but is still slushy in the center, about 45 minutes.
- Lightly stir the crystals from the edge of the granita mixture into the center using a fork and mix thoroughly. Replace the lid. Close the freezer and chill until granita is nearly frozen, 30 to 40 more minutes.
- Mix lightly with a fork as before, scraping the crystals loose. Repeat freezing and stirring with the fork 3 to 4 times until crystals are separate and the granita is light, dry, and fluffy.
- Serve each portion with 1/2 of a lemon wheel and fresh lemon zest on top.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 95.3 calories, Carbohydrate 28.3 g, Fat 0.2 g, Fiber 2.9 g, Protein 0.8 g, Sodium 3.4 mg, Sugar 20.6 g
LEMON GRANITA
Steps:
- Pour the water and sugar into a small saucepan, and bring to a boil. Boil until the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from heat, and stir in the lemon juice. Let cool slightly.
- Pour into twelve 8-ounce plastic or paper cups, and freeze overnight or until solid. For a granular ice another option is to put the lemon mixture in a wide ceramic baking pan and set it in the freezer, scraping and mixing it every half hour as it solidifies. When all the liquid has solidified into loose crystals it is ready to serve. Spoon into decorative glasses.
Tips:
- Use fresh lemons: Fresh lemons provide the best flavor and aroma for your granita. If you can, use organic lemons to avoid any pesticides or chemicals.
- Zest your lemons: The zest of the lemons contains a lot of flavor, so be sure to zest them before juicing them. You can use a zester or a grater to remove the zest.
- Use a good quality sugar: The sugar you use will also affect the flavor of your granita. Use a good quality sugar, such as cane sugar or organic sugar.
- Chill your ingredients: Before you start making your granita, chill all of your ingredients. This will help the granita freeze more evenly.
- Freeze your granita in a shallow container: This will help it freeze more quickly and evenly.
- Stir your granita every 30 minutes: This will help to break up the ice crystals and create a smooth granita.
- Serve your granita immediately: Granita is best served immediately after it is made. If you need to store it, you can keep it in the freezer for up to 2 weeks.
Conclusion:
Granita is a delicious and refreshing Italian dessert that is perfect for a hot summer day. It is easy to make and can be customized to your own taste. With a few simple ingredients, you can create a delicious and refreshing granita that will cool you down and satisfy your sweet craving.
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