Refreshing Watermelon Granita

Watermelon Granita

Even though I just had a small group over for July 4th, bright and early in the morning I rushed to the store for a 10-pound watermelon. Why? Who knows. I guess I pictured us all lazing around on the back porch, feet in the grass, noshing on slices and spitting the seeds into the yard. Idyllic summer fantasty, right? Actually, it went more like this: Go outside for a few minutes, decide it’s too stinking hot to do anything but sweat, and run back into the refuge of air conditioning. The end.

Needless to say, I was left with a lot of watermelon. Anyone want some recipes? That’s okay, you’re gonna get ‘em anyway.

Watermelon

Granita is one of my favorite summertime treats – it’s the best icy cold, light and fruity snack/dessert/whatever/whenever, and it always cools you off on a hot summer day or night.

Granita

I’ve made a couple variations of granita before with raspberries, pineapples and strawberries. This flavor is, by far, my favorite. You just make a simple syrup from water and sugar, whiz the watermelon in a blender or processor with a little lime juice, combine the two and freeze it all in a dish. Every thirty minutes for a couple hours, take a fork and rake through it to make tiny crystals of icy watermelon deliciousness, and you’re ready to enjoy it!

Watermelon Granita Recipe

Now… time to go put my new blender – and mountains of melon – to use with some frozen watermelon margaritas! Who wants?

Refreshing Watermelon Granita

Refreshing Watermelon Granita

Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup sugar, equivalent Splenda sugar substitute may be used
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 4 pounds seedless watermelon, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 5 cups)
  • 2 Tablespoons fresh lime juice

Instructions

  1. Make a simple syrup by heating sugar and water over high heat, stirring until all the sugar has dissolved. Let cool.
  2. Place the watermelon and lime juice in a heavy-duty blender and process until smooth. Add simple syrup to the puree and pulse until combined.
  3. Pour liquid into a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Freeze, stirring and scraping with a fork every 30 minutes, until all of the liquid has frozen. This should take about 3 hours. May be stored in the freezer up to 5 days.
  4. Stir again before serving. Serve watermelon granita in large glasses.
  5. Enjoy!

Did you make this recipe?

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Join the Conversation

  1. Your photos are so bright and vibrant. This really looks so refreshing. Perfect for hot summer days!

  2. I love granita – my wife makes a similar thing with kiwi which is SO refreshing on a summer’s day. Problem is, I don’t think watermelon would ever last long enough to be used for something like this but it looks delicious!

  3. Yum! I have been thinking of making some kind of watermelon blended drink… yours looks so refreshing! :) And I like where you were going with the margarita idea…

  4. So refreshing, perfect for summer! :) My husband adores watermelon, so I know he’s love this!

  5. Wow, I just came back from a 10 mile bike ride and am dripping. I’d give anything for some of this right now, looks amazing!!

  6. You can pour me one of those watermelon margaritas!! oh, and I’ll take a bowl of the granita too :) I need all the cooling things I can get.. this 115 degree weather is starting to wear on me!!

  7. I have made quite a number of various granitas. However, I don’t like watermelon. But I appreciate you reminding me that granita is something I love. I need to make some soon.

  8. This looks so good and from your description it’s easy enough for me to not mess up! BTW I totally understand what you mean by the heat, we recently got back from San Francisco to Houston, oh man it’s hard to handle!

  9. Lovely. Off to buy a watermelon!

  10. I love granita too..I tried making this the other day but added mint and rosewater..it was heavenly

  11. That’s a really fresh and summery treat!

  12. I did you one better – I bought TWO large watermelons. They were on sale and I needed them for . . . I guess I’m just a sucker for a sale, okay? Thank you for a great idea on what to do with them!

  13. I too have made this recently – Such a great summer treat. Oh, try it with vodka or tequila next time for the grown up version.
    Karen

  14. I do that all of the time–buy more of an ingredient than I need. But I figure, it’s always better to have more than enough, than not enough! This sounds delicious, and the perfect summer treat. :)

  15. I want! I want! I am cooling off just LOOKING at these photos.

  16. What a yummy cool treat. It’s so hot here in Switzerland, so this will be a great refresher!

  17. This looks delicious Georgia!! So perfect for the summer! :)

  18. This was refreshing and delicious! Much better than spitting seeds into the grass anyway :)

  19. my 20 months daughter loves watermelon and every time I oped the fridge door, she asks for some.
    Your granita sounds like a great idea to enjoy this delicious fruit.
    Thanks for sharing Georgia

  20. This looks wonderful, a refreshing treat for our wweather these days

  21. I was in Chicago for July 4th, and the evening temps were in the 70’s…was so nice to not melt in the Texas heat :)! This looks so refreshing…I adore watermelon and am always looking for new ways to use it. Pinning this one to try this summer…

  22. What a lovely summer treat – I can’t get enough watermelon!

  23. Watermelon is one of my very favorite summer fruits, and I love to keep a container of it cold in the refrigerator. This granita sounds like the perfect way to eat it- so cold and refreshing- on a hot summer day. :)

  24. I make margaritas like this. It’s a perfect summer treat!!

  25. Gosh Georgia, this watermelon granita is just beautiful! I’ve been wanting to try my hand at making granitas. I’ll start by making your watermelon, tasty treat!

    LOL! Must be a real change of weather where you are now. Is it in the triple digits? =)

  26. I’m making your watermelon granita as I write this and might I add it is coming out beautiful! I know I’ll be making it again soon.

    Thanks a bunch!
    Jen

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