Pineapple Granita Food

PINEAPPLE GRANITA

Steps:

• Combine sugar with 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Simmer until sugar is dissolved, stirring once or twice. Whisk juice into the sugar syrup and pour into a 9 x 9 x 2-inch pan. Freeze 2-3 hours, pulling a fork through the mixture every 30 minutes to make granules. Serve in glasses garnished with mint.

PINEAPPLE GRANITE

Steps:

• Transfer one can of crushed pineapple with its syrup to a metal pan and freeze; this will be for kids.
• Mix the other can with rum and freeze in a separate metal container.
• When frozen solid, cut into large chunks in a food processor or chop up with a chef's knife. Transfer frozen pineapple chunks to wine goblets and garnish with sliced fruit or top with granola for crunch.

PINEAPPLE-ORANGE GRANITA

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a heavy-duty quart size resealable plastic bag. Seal tightly and store flat in freezer until firm.
• Fifteen minutes before serving, remove from freezer to soften slightly.
• Using a meat mallet or rolling pin, pound to crush ice mixture. Spoon into wine goblets or dessert dishes and serve garnished with orange segments and mint sprigs.

PINEAPPLE GRANITA

Steps:

• Place the sugar and 1/2 cup water in a saucepan and heat until the sugar dissolves into a clear liquid (simple sugar). Set aside to cool. Cut the pineapple into chunks, discarding the skin and core. Put some pineapple and some simple syrup in a blender or food processor and puree. Repeat until you've pureed all the pineapple and syrup. Pour into an 8- or 9-inch baking pan and freeze partway, stirring occasionally (so it doesn't become too solid to dish up). Scoop the partially frozen mixture into a tub or compote dishes to freeze up completely; it should be somewhat granular and scrape off the pan in long strips with the spoon. Serve garnished with the berries and the mint.

HORCHATA GRANITA WITH KIWI, MANGO AND PINEAPPLE

Steps:

• Grind raw, unwashed rice in a blender on high speed to a fine powder. Transfer to a medium bowl and whisk in 4 cups water, vanilla bean and cinnamon stick. Cover and let sit at room temperature for 8 hours and up to 24.
• Vigorously whisk rice mixture until rice is evenly distributed and strain through a fine mesh sieve into a 13" x 9" baking dish, pressing on solids to extract as much liquid as possible (you should have about 2 ½ cups). Reserve solids for another use (like cream-of-rice porridge). Whisk milk, sugar and ¼ teaspoon salt into rice milk until completely dissolved.
• Freeze rice mixture until edges begin to set, 30-35 minutes. Using a fork, scrape to break up frozen portions. Freeze, scraping and breaking up every 20-30 minutes, until mixture resembles fluffy shaved ice, 2-4 hours.
• Meanwhile, toss mango, kiwi, pineapple, pinch salt and remaining 1 tablespoon sugar in a medium bowl. Cover and chill until ready to serve.
• To serve, divide granita among bowls; top with fruit and sesame seeds.
• Do Ahead: Granita can be made 1 week ahead. Cover and keep frozen. Scrape to fluff just before serving.