Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Granita Time

Granita is an Italian semi frozen desert originally from Sicily.It is made of water,sugar and flavourings.It has a coarser or rough texture compared to smoother sorbet.It looks like flavoured crushed ice.Common flavourings are lemon,berries,mint,almonds etc.

Chocolate Granita:
Chocolate granita is traditional in Catania in Sicily.I obtained the chocolate recipe from Oprah magazine site and so here it is.

Ingredients:
Water: 1 cup or more
Unsweetened cocoa powder: 2 tbsp
Sugar: 3 tbsp or more per taste

Preparation:
Combine all the ingredients in a sauce pan and boil.As soon as bubbles appear on the edges,reduce heat and cook for 1-2 minutes whisking continuously.Let it cool.

There are 2 methods for freezing granita.

Classic method:

Pour the cooled mix into a shallow container(shallower the dish,quicker it will freeze),cover with a lid or foil and freeze.After 1-2 hours when it is solid around the edges,scrape it with a fork, mixing from the edges to the centre.Refreeze.

Repeat the process atleast 3 times for every 30 minutes, until the entire mixture has turned into coarser ice flakesor crushed ice.

When time to serve, thaw for a few minutes,scrape it again to loosen it and serve

Quick method:

Pour the cooled mixture in a tray and cover and freeze.At the time of serving,cut the ice and process in a blender and serve.



Apple Lemon Granita:

I got the idea of an apple lemon granita from KitchenFlavour's Apple Lemon Sharbat.I twisted it a bit to suit my needs.

Ingredients:

Water: 1cup
Sugar: 1/4 cup
Lemon juice:2 tsp
Lemon zest:1/4 lemon
Apple sauce: 2 tbsp
Apple Juice: 2 tbsp

Preparation:

Combine water,sugar,zest and lime juice and boil.Once it bubbles,reduce heat and add apple sauce and apple juice.Simmer for a minute and remove from heat.

Once cooled,use one of the above specified methods for freezing and serve.

You can avoid the apple sauce and use more apple juice.If you do not have apple sauce/juice use peeled,cubed apple and boil.In this case you have to blend the mix before freezing.

The texture of granita varies with the method used.I used the classic freezing method and did the scrapping only twice.I am a chocoholic,I liked the chocolate one but the apple lemon granita was better.Thanks Kitchen Flavours.

It is very easy to make a granita and it is a must in summertime,and so enjoy the very last summer days(beginning of fall in US)with a granita.


11 Comments:

anudivya said...

Those look lovely, the brown and the off-white kind of look cute together. I especially like the chocolate one. If it interests you, there is a contest going on "La Cucina Italiana". Find details about it in MeetaK's blog. This might fit the bill

CurryLeaf said...

Thanks Divya.Nice of you.I am trying to prepare something else for the Cucina Italiana.Hope it turns out good.

Vaishali said...

Ooh, how delicious do those look! And perfect for the waistline too, since they're mostly water. Nice job, Curry Leaf!

Cham said...

I love granita, usually do with lemonade and scrap like a kid the freezing lemonade :) Ur Granita glasses are cute

Srikitchen said...

wow! that looks lovely! it looks inviting!

lubnakarim06 said...

Wow this looks something refreshing and cool.

Swati Raman Garg said...

love the look of the brown one.... too good...

Deepthi Shankar said...

lovely man .. looks really amazing

raaji said...

chocolate granita is a great idea for choc-lovers like me....few days before i made a lemonade....

Mansi said...

I recently tried a coffee granita in italy! so I can say the chocolate one is going to be fab too!

Sunshinemom said...

Not a very nice time to look at a yummy recipe like this - its dawn here!! Looks so easy - I will try this to see whether the kids will love it!

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