Imagine a dessert that's not just a treat, but a sensory explosion of tropical flavors that will transport you to a sun-drenched Italian coastline with every spoonful! This Strawberry Passion Fruit Granita is more than just a dessert – it's a cooling masterpiece that combines the sweet lusciousness of ripe strawberries with the tangy punch of passion fruit, creating an irresistible frozen delicacy that will make your taste buds dance. Perfect for scorching summer days or as an elegant palate cleanser, this granita is about to become your new obsession!
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 2 hrs
Total Time: 2 hrs 10 mins
Cuisine: Italian
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 2 cups strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 1 cup passion fruit juice
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Wash and hull the strawberries, then slice them into small, uniform pieces to ensure even freezing and texture.
- In a medium saucepan, combine water and sugar. Heat over medium flame, stirring constantly until the sugar completely dissolves, creating a simple syrup. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
- Place the sliced strawberries in a blender. Add the cooled simple syrup and passion fruit juice. Blend until smooth and completely combined, creating a vibrant, fragrant mixture.
- Pour the blended mixture through a fine-mesh strainer to remove any seeds or pulp, ensuring a smooth consistency.
- Transfer the strained mixture into a shallow, wide freezer-safe dish, which will help the granita freeze evenly and make scraping easier.
- Place the dish in the freezer. Every 30 minutes, remove the dish and use a fork to scrape and break up the forming ice crystals, creating a light, fluffy texture.
- Continue this scraping process for approximately 2 hours, or until the entire mixture is frozen into delicate, icy flakes.
- Once fully frozen, use a fork to fluff and separate the granita into light, airy crystals.
- Serve immediately in chilled glasses or bowls, garnishing with fresh strawberry slices or mint leaves if desired.
Tips
- Use the freshest strawberries possible for the most vibrant flavor. Ripe, in-season berries will make a significant difference in taste.
- When making the simple syrup, ensure all sugar is completely dissolved to prevent graininess in your final dessert.
- The key to a perfect granita is frequent scraping. Don't skip the 30-minute freezer checks – this is what creates those signature light, fluffy ice crystals.
- A wide, shallow dish is crucial for even freezing and easy scraping. A metal or glass baking dish works best.
- For an extra elegant presentation, serve in chilled glasses and garnish with fresh mint or a strawberry slice.
- If you want to make this ahead, the granita can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 days. Just fluff with a fork before serving.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 150kcal
Carbohydrates: 38g
Protein: 1g
Fat: 0g
Saturated Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
