Watermelon and vodka granita

Watermelon and vodka granita
  • Serves icon Serves 8
  • Time icon Hands-on time 20 min, plus freezing

An adults-only treat to serve at your next soirée, our boozy watermelon granita – made with lime, ginger and mint – is great served as dessert or in-between courses.

Or, for something a little different, try our melon and gin granita recipe.

Nutrition: per serving

Calories
172kcals
Fat
0.6g (0.2g saturated)
Protein
1.1g
Carbohydrates
32g (31.7g sugars)
Fibre
0.3g
Salt
trace salt
Calories
172kcals
Fat
0.6g (0.2g saturated)
Protein
1.1g
Carbohydrates
32g (31.7g sugars)
Fibre
0.3g
Salt
trace salt

Ingredients

  • 1 small watermelon, peeled and deseeded (see tips)
  • 130ml vodka

For the syrup

  •  150 caster sugar
  • Zest and juice 2 limes
  • 40g fresh ginger, grated
  • A few fresh mint leaves, chopped

Method

  1. Roughly chop the watermelon, put it into a blender or food processor with the vodka and whizz until smooth (see tips). Strain into a deep tray, then freeze for 1 hour. Drag a fork through the granita to break up the ice crystals, then freeze for 45 minutes more. Drag the fork through again. Repeat after another 45 minutes or so until the ice has a rough, grainy texture.
  2. Meanwhile make the syrup. Dissolve the sugar in 80ml water in a pan on a low heat, stirring occasionally, until clear. Boil the syrup briskly, adding the zest and juice of the limes and grated ginger. Cook for about 5 minutes until just syrupy, then cool but don’t put in the fridge. To serve, scoop the granita into glasses, drizzle over the syrup and scatter with the chopped mint.

delicious. tips

  1. Taste the melon and if it’s not super-sweet, dissolve 1 tbsp sugar in 1 tbsp boiling water, then add it with the vodka in step 1.

    To prepare watermelon, slice off the ends. Rest it on a flat end, then slice off the skin in strips, turning the melon as you go. Cut vertically into slices, break them along the seed lines, then remove the seeds.

  2. Make the granita up to 2 days in advance. Take it out of the freezer a few minutes before serving to soften it slightly.

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