Pomegranate And Rose Granita Food

POMEGRANATE AND ROSE GRANITA

Steps:

• Add sugar and 7 tablespoons/100 milliliters water to a small saucepan and place over high heat. Stir continuously, until sugar has dissolved and the liquid comes to the boil.
• Add mint, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 1 minute, stirring occasionally.
• Remove from heat and set aside to cool, about 20 minutes. Strain the syrup into a large bowl, pressing on the mint to extract the water. Discard the mint.
• Whisk the pomegranate juice and rose water into the syrup until combined. Pour into a container and freeze for 2 to 3 hours, until clumps form and the edges are solid. (The shallower the container, the shorter the freezing time.) Use a fork to separate the crystals and freeze for another 2 hours. Repeat with the fork again, scraping the tines across the frozen mixture, and continue this process until the liquid has frozen into separate crystals throughout, about 8 to 10 hours total.
• Just before serving, divide the granita between small glasses and sprinkle with the pomegranate seeds and rose petals.

POMEGRANATE GRANITA

Steps:

• Slice off the top and bottom of the pomegranates, then break them apart and remove the seeds. With your hands, squeeze all of the juice out of the seeds, then push the mixture through a sieve, pressing down gently to extract as much juice as possible without pushing the bitter skins through.
• Discard the seeds. In a large shallow glass baking dish that will fit in your freezer, combine the juice with the sugar and stir until the sugar has dissolved (place the pan over a very low flame if desired to speed the dissolving of the sugar). Freeze for 4 hours, stirring every 15 minutes.
• Scrape the surface of the ice with a spoon into large flaky crystals.
• Refreeze if desired. The granita should be served as a chunky ice, not a smooth sorbet.

POMEGRANATE GRANITA

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the 2 juices and season with sugar, to taste. Pour into a 9 by 13-inch baking dish. Carefully place in freezer and freeze until solid, about 4 hours. Use a fork to scrape into large crystals and spoon granita into chilled glasses. Serve immediately.

POMEGRANATE-GRAPEFRUIT GRANITA

Steps:

• In large bowl, combine the pomegranate juice, orange juice, sugar and rose water. Use a whisk and stir until sugar is dissolved.
• Pour the mixture into a 13 x 9-inch baking pan or an 8-inch square baking pan if the recipe has been cut in half. Cover with plastic wrap.
• Place in freezer and freeze at least a minimum of 6-8 hours or overnight.
• To serve: scrape a large spoon across the surface of the granita to create large ice crystals.
• Spoon granita into chilled glasses. Tip: I chill the glasses in the freezer to obtain that "frosted" effect.
• If desired, garnish each serving with a fresh mint leaf or fresh lemon verbena leaf.
• Prep time includes passive time to allow the mixture to freeze.