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Thank you to Oster for sponsoring the post for today’s Watermelon Granita! We’re using the blender to whip up a slightly sweetened watermelon and lime mixture, then transforming it into an icy treat in the freezer. Simple and perfect for these hot summer days.
Watermelon Granita
Is there anything better on a miserably hot day than an ice cold treat? And when that treat is our Easy Watermelon Granita, you’re in for a very delicious and refreshing summer pick-me-up. Long before the trendy frosé of the present, there was granita – an icy fruit-based dessert similar to sorbet and Italian ice, but much much easier to make.
In honor of Oster’s 75th Blending Anniversary we’re sharing our hack on the easiest way to make granita – with a blender!
Our version, a Watermelon Granita only requires Oster’s blender, a baking pan, fork, and a freezer – all tools surely mainstays in your cupboard. We keep things simple with a fresh watermelon base sweetened with a touch of basil-infused simple syrup and lime juice. We kept ours alcohol-free but it would be super simple to throw in a splash (or two) of tequila for a icy take on a watermelon margarita.
We use our trusty Oster blender to blend the sugar into hot water and then later pulverize the watermelon and lime juice into a smooth puree before transferring it to a baking dish and on in to the freezer.
Serve with fresh basil and if you’re feeling indulgent, top with a dollop of homemade whipped cream and toasted coconut.
Let’s get started!
Ingredients in Watermelon Granita
Basil. I like to pop a few leaves of basil into the water before zapping it in the microwave to warm up. We also chiffonade the basil at the end to garnish the watermelon granita.
Water. Hot water. Not only do we want hot water to dissolve the sugar, but it will help to infuse a little bit of the basil into the water as well.
Sugar. Even though watermelon is innately sweet we like to add just a touch more sugar.
Watermelon. Pick a watermelon that has a light yellow spot on it. This means the watermelon is ripe and sweet.
Lime juice. I love a little bit of acid in our granita and prefer zippy lime juice over lemon or any other citrus.
Let’s make Watermelon Granita
Heat the water. Remember, we want the water to be hot so it dissolves the sugar. Add the basil and water to a microwave proof pool. Heat until boiling, about three minutes. Remove the basil from the water.
Blend the sugar and water. As we mentioned before we use Oster’s Pulverizing Pulverizing Power Blender with a High-Speed Motor to make the granita. It’s 800-watt motor blends ice in seconds, making the process for our watermelon granita ridiculously quick and easy.
The blender has a six-cup glass jar, so you can easily double or triple this recipe to serve a crowd. Also, cleanup is super easy since you can just slide blender in to the dishwasher to clean.
So first, you want to add the hot water and sugar to the bottom of the blender. Blend until smooth and the sugar has dissolved.
Blend everything else. Add the watermelon and lime juice to the simple syrup. Pulse until the watermelon is pureed.
Freeze. Pour the mixture into a 9×12 baking dish. Metal usually freezes faster. Pop the baking dish in the freezer for 35 minutes. Pull it out and use a fork to stir. Place back in for 25 minutes. Pull it out and stir with a fork again. At this point, it should be starting to ice. Continue to do this until the mixture is slushy-like.
Serve! Spoon the granita into bowls. Sprinkle with fresh basil.
Can I make this in advance?
Yes! However, you want to make sure to make it from start to finish. If you stick it back into the freezer before it turns to granita, leaving it overnight will turn the mixture into one giant ice cube. Store in an airtight container. It may solidify a bit, but with a little elbow grease the flakes should separate.
Another option would be to pour the liquid mixture into ice cube trays, freeze overnight or up two a few days and then pulse in the blender until it resemble a frozen ice texture.
Substitutions and Tips and Tricks for Recipe Success
- Add in a 1/4 cup of tequila for a boozy treat.
- Feel free too swap out strawberries for the watermelon.
- Be sure you don’t forget about the granita in the freezer!
Don’t miss some of our other favorite fruity treats
- We also use Oster’s Blender for our tropical smoothies. Healthy breakfast or snack meets dessert!
- Our strawberry shortcakes are the best in the world, trust us on this!
- This Strawberry Banana Pudding Pie is one of our favorite summer desserts!
Watermelon Granita
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup very hot water
- 5 basil leaves, plus more for garnish
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 lb diced watermelon, seeded
- 2 tbsp lime juice
Equipment
- Oster Blender
Instructions
- Add the water to a microwave proof bowl or measuring cup. Add basil leaves. Microwave 3-4 minutes or until very hot and almost boiling.
- Pour water and sugar in to the blender. Blend until smooth.
- Add the lime juice and watermelon. Pulse until smooth.
- Pour the mixture in to a 9x12 metal baking dish. Place in the freezer on a flat surface. Freeze for 20 minutes. Pull it out and use a fork to stir the mixture. Place back in the freezer and repeat again, but stir after 15 minutes. Repeat the process until the mixture has completely crystalized.
- Spoon in to bowls and garnish with fresh basil and whipped cream if desired.
Sabrina says
a nice way to eat watermelon, and like it especially with lime, thank you!