Blueberry Sage Granita Food

BLUEBERRY GRANITA

Steps:

• Blend the blueberries and sugar in a food processor until smooth; strain through a fine-mesh strainer, pressing with a wooden spoon to separate the blueberry puree from any chunks of skin or seeds.
• Stir the strained blueberry puree, water, and lemon juice together in a shallow glass baking dish or tray. Place the dish in the freezer; scrape and stir the blueberry mixture with a fork once an hour until evenly frozen and icy, about 4 hours. Scrape to fluff and lighten the ice crystals; spoon into chilled glasses to serve.

BLUEBERRY GRANITA

Steps:

• Combine the blueberries, sugar, lemon juice, vanilla and 3/4 cup water in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour the liquid through a fine-mesh sieve into a 9-inch square glass baking dish, pressing hard on the solids with a spatula before discarding. Freeze the mixture, stirring and crushing up clumps of ice with a fork every hour, until it is frozen, but slushy, about 4 hours total. Spoon into glasses and garnish with the mint or basil leaves.

WATERMELON GRANITA WITH BLUEBERRIES

Steps:

• In a food processor, puree watermelon, working in 2 batches. Strain puree through a sieve, reserving liquid; discard solids. In a 9" x 13" metal pan, combine watermelon puree, juice and agave. Freeze, scraping thoroughly with a fork every 20 to 30 minutes, until granita resembles coarse crystals, 2 to 4 hours. Remove from freezer; scrape granita once more with a fork. Divide among 6 glasses. Top each with 1/3 cup blueberries and a mint sprig, if desired.

3-INGREDIENT BLUEBERRY CHAMPAGNE GRANITA

Steps:

• Bring sugar, 1 cup blueberries, and 1 cup water to a boil in a small saucepan; cook, stirring, until sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Transfer blueberry syrup to a medium bowl set inside an ice bath and let cool.
• Purée syrup and remaining blueberries in a food processor until smooth. Strain mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a 13x9" (or other 3-qt.) freezer-safe baking dish, pressing on solids to extract as much juice as possible; discard solids.
• Pour sparkling wine into baking dish and stir to combine. Freeze mixture until just beginning to crystallize, about 2 hours. Scrape with a fork, then continue to freeze, scraping every hour, until texture is similar to shaved ice, 3-4 hours more. Cover with plastic wrap and keep frozen until ready to serve.
• Do Ahead
• Granita can be made 5 days ahead; keep frozen.

BLUEBERRY BASIL GRANITA

Steps:

• Blend blueberries, water, basil, lime juice, honey and salt in a food processor or blender until smooth. Place in an airtight container and freeze until slushy, at least 2 1/2 hours. Divide among 4 glasses and serve with a sprig of fresh basil.

BLUEBERRY GINGER GRANITA

Steps:

• Finely grind ginger with sugar in a food processor. Add blueberries and purée until smooth. Force purée through a fine sieve into an 8- to 9-inch baking pan, pressing hard on solids (discard solids). Stir in water and lime juice.
• Freeze, stirring and crushing lumps with a fork every hour, until evenly frozen, about 4 hours total. Scrape with a fork to lighten texture, crushing any lumps.
• Serve immediately or freeze, covered, up to 3 days (rescrape to lighten texture again if necessary).