Watermelon Italian Ice Recipe: Granita

This Watermelon Italian Ice recipe is one of the best-frozen desserts. It is refreshing, easy to make and most of all, it tastes great! Keep cool during those hot summer months with granita!

Jump to:

• Introduction
• How to Make Watermelon Granita
• Tips
• Watermelon Recipes
• Recipe

Introduction

What comes to mind when you think of the best way to cool down on a hot summer day?

Is it an ice-cold lemonade, a cold coffee, or perhaps an icy Italian treat with origins in Sicily called granita? 

Also referred to as Italian ice, simply mentioning it can already make you feel slightly more refreshed.

If you are unfamiliar with this shaved ice treat, it is a frozen dessert with countless individual flavored ice crystals. One might say a distant relative of snow cones.

Most granita recipes require basic ingredients -water, sugar, pureed fruit, or juice. One popular exception is coffee granita. 

Sicilians figured out a long time ago that combining water, sugar and lemons creates a refreshing summer dessert –granita al limone or, if you prefer, lemon ice. 

But there are infinite possibilities! Peach, cantaloupe and strawberry granita are just a few examples of fresh fruit that can be transformed into this easy no-bake dessert.

This watermelon ice recipe can easily be made by combining pureed watermelon with sugar. Once placed in the freezer, the simple process of scraping the newly formed ice every sixty minutes for a couple of hours with a fork begins. The only special equipment you need is a food processor. 

How to Make Watermelon Granita

The first thing we will do is remove the rind from a fresh watermelon. For this sweet treat, you need 2 pounds of cubed seedless watermelon. Set it aside in a large bowl for now. 

Place 1-2 tablespoons of sugar and 1-2 tender mint leaves in a food processor. 

Process until finely minced. 

Add the 2 pounds of watermelon chunks, 1 tablespoon of lime juice and a pinch of salt and process until pureed. The total amount of liquid should be about 4 cups per markings on the food processor. 

Pour the watermelon puree mixture into a shallow stainless steel pan and place it in the freezer. You can strain the mixture if desired to create a more refined granita.

Stir to break up the ice every 60 minutes or so with a fork for about 3-4 hours. The consistency should be granular but still slushy.
At this point, cover and allow to freeze undisturbed for at least 2 hours.

When ready to serve, grate from the top (with a fork) and place in serving dishes. Garnish with fresh mint leaves and a lime wedge and serve immediately.

Tips

• Watermelon is a naturally sweet fruit, so taste it and then adjust the amount of added sugar, if any, to your liking. This will help you create a granita with the perfect amount of sweetness. 
• Use a wide shallow stainless steel pan or container to speed up the freezing process. 
• Store in the freezer in an airtight container for up to one month. 

Watermelon Recipes

If you enjoy barbecuing, your family and friends are going to love this unique watermelon appetizer grilled to perfection. 

★★★★★ If you have made this homemade Italian ice, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!

Recipe

This post was originally published on August 5, 2017 and republished on June 17, 2022, with updated content. Thanks for sharing.