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Simple Lemon Granita Recipe

June 19, 2009 by Nicole 29 Comments

Lemon Granita

With today’s modern ice cream makers, frozen fruit mixtures like granitas and sorbets can be whipped up in no time! Usually containing only fresh fruit, water and sugar, Sicilian granita is one of the simplest frozen desserts breakfasts you can make.

We moved back to the California from Sicily a year and a half ago and one of the things I miss most is the granita from Catania. I can’t believe that it took me this long to figure out how simple it is to make granita at home!

My first attempt at granita was a few weeks ago, when I made brioche for The Bread Baker’s Apprentice Challenge.  Since I was making brioche for the first time, it only made sense that I attempt some homemade granita. In Sicily, granita and brioche are eaten together for breakfast during the hot months of summer.  It might sound strange, but don’t knock it til you try it!  You’ll also see Sicilians eating ice cream sandwiches of brioche and gelato, another tradition of which I highly approve!

So as I was saying, I made some fresh strawberry granita to go with my brioche.  It was good, but the fruit/water/ sugar ratio wasn’t quite right, so I need to give it another try.  It was the following week that a friend and food writer from Catania showed up unexpectedly on twitter.  And guess what she was tweeting about?  Brioche and granita!  She even shared a quick Lemon Granita recipe.  Of course I had to try it!

Although the textures vary from province to province, the granita I grew accustomed to eating in Catania is somewhat soft and slushy, rather than granular and icy.  By processing it in an ice cream maker until semi-solid, it is quick and easy to replicate the texture of the granita I know and love.

Like anything, the lemon granitas in Sicily vary in sweetness and tartness from bar to bar. Some are almost unbearably tart (I love those!), some are almost too sweet.  I’d say this one falls somewhere in the middle.  Please feel free to adjust the amounts of lemon juice and/or sugar to suit your own taste.

Now I just need someone to teach me how to make granita di mandorla (almond granita) and I’ll be even happier!

Simple Lemon Granita
adapted from this recipe

1 1/2 cups water
scant cup of sugar
juice of 2 1/2 lemons

Heat water and sugar, stirring, until sugar dissolves.  Let cool completely.  Stir in lemon juice and refrigerate until cold.  Process in an ice cream maker until slushy, but not frozen completely.  Serve immediately.

Yield: approximately four servings

Recipe notes: Lemon juice and sugar amounts can be adjusted to suit your own taste.  You may freeze leftovers, but keep in mind that it will freeze solid.  Just let it sit out at room temperature for 20 minutes or so, then stir with a fork until slushy again before serving.

As you can see, twitter is increasingly becoming the place to talk about food!  Have you joined yet?  If so, you can follow me here.  And don’t forget to follow Alessandra, perhaps she’ll tweet some more of my favorite recipes from Sicily!  And here’s a list of several other food bloggers on Twitter.

Filed Under: Breakfast/Brunch, Desserts, Vegetarian Tagged With: granita, lemon, recipe, Sicily

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Heather Turner says

    June 30, 2009 at 11:37 am

    Found your site looking for "how to make" granita di mandorla (almond granita) We currently live in Sicily, transferring soon :-( and LOVE granita. I will try making lemon and then move on to almond. Ciao
    Reply
  2. Doug says

    July 4, 2009 at 2:27 pm

    Heather Turner and anyone else in Sig. The best G and B in Sicilia is at Daidone in Catenanuova (on the way to Enna). We would drive from Motta every weekend for them. The brioche have a hint of orange zest and the granite (pl) are to die for. Our favorites are gelsi (mulberry) and pesca (peach), both con panna (fresh whipped cream). Sorry, translations are for the non-initiated. Buon Appetito!!
    Reply
  3. Carol Carpenter says

    May 19, 2016 at 4:24 pm

    Granita is wonderful with pink grapefruit juice. Squeeze fresh grapefruit, add sugar to taste (if the fruit is room or yard temperature just mix the sugar into the juice and stir) Add cold water to taste. (I have so many grapefruit falling off the tree at the moment I don't add water! Follow the directions for freezing.
    Reply
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