Lime Granita Food

BASIL AND LIME GRANITA

Steps:

• In a pan, dissolve the sugar in the water. Bring it to a boil and simmer for a couple of minutes. Remove from the heat, and add the basil leaves. Mix and leave to cool.
• When it is cold, remove the basil leaves and discard them. Add the lime juice, including any fleshy bits, and mix.
• Pour into a large freezer proof container, and put into the freezer.
• Every 15 minutes, for 2 hours, take out of the freezer and mix it up. Then every half an hour until the granita appears grainy and the crystals have been broken down. It should resemble snow or coarse sand.
• Enjoy!

EASY LIME GRANITA (2 WAYS)

Steps:

• In a small pot on medium high heat combine the sugar and water, bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Let cool completely.
• When the syrup has cooled had the strained lime juice and zest, whisk to combine. Pour into a freezer safe bowl. Place in the freezer for approximately 1 hour (may be more or less time depending on your freezer).
• Remove bowl from the freezer and with a fork break up the ice and mix to combine. Repeat 3-4 times or until the mixture is slushy. Serve in a tall glass with a spoon.
• Follow the same steps for the freezer method, but instead of pouring into a bowl pour into the ice cream maker and churn according to manufacturer's directions, 25-30 minutes or until mixture becomes compact and creamy. Enjoy!

WATERMELON, GINGER AND LIME GRANITA

Steps:

• In a blender, blend the lime juice and watermelon together, creating watermelon water.
• Strain the liquid through a fine mesh strainer to remove any seeds.
• Place 1/2 cup of the watermelon water into a saucepan and add the sugar, lime zest and ginger coins. Bring the mixture to a simmer to dissolve the sugar and infuse the liquid with the ginger and lime flavor. Set aside to cool.
• Add the grated ginger to the remaining watermelon water. Once the syrup is cool, remove the ginger coins and mix into the watermelon water. Pour the mixture into a 9 by 13-inch glass baking dish. Place the dish into the freezer to chill.
• Every 30 minutes, scrape the mixture with a fork to break up the ice crystals and to keep it light and fluffy. Continue scraping every 30 minutes for at least 2 hours. Scrape the granita into elegant glasses and sprinkle with fleur de sel.
• Cook's Notes:.
• Taste your watermelon, this will tell you how much sugar to add to your simple syrup.
• The fork helps to create ice crystals that will help give you a slushy consistency.

GINGER-LIME GRANITA

Steps:

• Special equipment: a meat tenderizer
• Combine 5 cups water and the turbinado sugar and ginger in a medium pot. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then turn off the heat and stir in the lime juice. Let cool to room temperature.
• Pour the mixture into a 9-by-13-inch metal baking pan and place in the freezer. Freeze until completely frozen, about 4 hours or up to overnight.
• Take the pan out of the freezer when it becomes a giant ice cube. Smash the frozen block with a meat tenderizer and scoop crushed granita into chilled martini glasses. Garnish with lime zest and serve immediately. Freeze any remaining granita until ready to serve.

COCONUT-LIME GRANITA

Steps:

• Place an 8-inch square baking dish in the freezer to chill while you make the simple syrup.
• Combine the sugar and 1/2 cup of water in a small saucepan over low heat until the sugar is dissolved and syrup is at a gentle boil. Remove it from the heat, and allow it to cool..
• Pull the chilled baking dish out of the freezer, and pour the coconut milk into the dish. You may need to whisk it to smooth out any lumps.
• Whisk in the simple syrup, lime zest, lime juice and fresh coconut until well combined. Place the dish in the freezer, and let it chill for 1 hour.
• Pull it out of the freezer, and using a fork, break up the ice crystals forming around the edge of the dish, by dragging them into the more molten center. Return to the freezer and repeat this process every hour or so, smoothing out the granita before you return it to the freezer. The whole process should take about 3 hours. When you're ready to serve, allow the granita to sit at room temperature for about 5 minutes so that it softens. Spoon the mixture into a small bowl or glass, and top with a little coarse sea salt.

STRAWBERRY LIME GRANITA

Steps:

• Make a simple syrup the night before, or up to a week ahead of time.
• In a small saucepan, bring the water to a boil over medium high heat; add the sugar and stir to dissolve, about 30 seconds.
• Reduce heat to low and cook another 5 minutes until the mixture is slightly thickened.
• Remove from heat; let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate overnight.
• About 3 to 4 hours before you will serve the granita, chill a 13x9 inch metal baking pan in the freezer.
• Combine the strawberries and lime juice in a blender; puree on high speed.
• Reduce speed to low setting and add the simple syrup.
• Blend for a few seconds just to incorporate.
• Take the chilled pan from the freezer and pour in the fruit mixture; return to freezer, uncovered.
• After an hour, the mixture should have just begun to set in the middle.
• Using a fork, break up the crystals and swirl around until you have a wide pile of mush in the center of the pan.
• Freeze for two more hours, breaking up the crystals once or twice.
• To serve: remove pan from freezer and let stand several minutes, if frozen solid.
• Use a fork to break up mixture, then scoop, with a spoon, large mounds into serving dishes or martini glasses.
• Drizzle a heaping teaspoon of condensed milk over each portion and a squeeze of lime, if desired.
• Garnish with mint sprig and wedge of lime.

LIME GRANITA AND CANDIED LIME ZEST

Steps:

• Put all ingredients except lime zest in a pot and bring to a boil. Strain and pour into shallow pan. Place in freezer and every twenty minutes stir with a fork until ice crystals form and it is nice and fluffy. Candied lime zest: Cover the zest with cold water and bring to a boil. Strain zest and repeat process 3 times. After the fourth time add 1 cup water and 1/2 cup sugar and cook slowly until zest is soft. Remove zest to parchment paper and cool. Use as a garnish for the granita.

WATERMELON, GINGER AND LIME GRANITA

Steps:

• In a blender, blend the lime juice and watermelon together, creating watermelon water. Strain the liquid through a fine mesh strainer to remove any seeds. Place 1/2 cup of the watermelon water into a saucepan and add the sugar, lime zest and ginger coins. Bring the mixture to a simmer to dissolve the sugar and infuse the liquid with the ginger and lime flavor. Set aside to cool. Add the grated ginger to the remaining watermelon water. Once the syrup is cool, remove the ginger coins and mix into the watermelon water. Pour the mixture into a 9 by 13-inch glass baking dish. Place the dish into the freezer to chill. Every 30 minutes, scrape the mixture with a fork to break up the ice crystals and to keep it light and fluffy. Continue scraping every 30 minutes for at least 2 hours. Scrape the granita into elegant glasses and sprinkle with fleur de sel.