Best Summer Melon Granita With Fresh Mint Recipes

Summer Melon Granita with Fresh Mint Recipe - (4.6/5) image

Provided by davidv

Number Of Ingredients 8

Steps:

Combine the sugar, water, and mint leaves into a medium pot. Boil the mixture for 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow it to cool. Remove the mint leaves and discard them. Using a large blender, combine the honeydew, cantaloupe, lemon juice, salt, and cooled sugar-water mixture; blend until completely smooth. Pour the mixture into an airtight container and chill for 3 hours. After the 3 hours have passed, stir the honeydew mixture well and pour it into a 9" x 13" baking pan. Freeze the mixture for 5-6 hours. Make sure to scrape through with a fork every 30 minutes for the first 3 hours (to separate the crystals.) Serve in a chilled glass and decorate with mint sprigs.

Summer Melon with Basil-Mint Granita image

Yield Makes 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 8

3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
3/4 cup chopped fresh mint leaves
3/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
2 tablespoons grated lime peel
1 1/2 cups fresh lime juice
1 1/4 cups water
3 small melons, halved lengthwise, seeded, each half cut into 8 wedges (about 3/4 inch wide), peeled
2 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh mint leaves plus 8 fresh sprigs for garnish

Steps:

Mix sugar, chopped mint, basil, and lime peel in medium bowl. Mash with wooden spoon until herbs turn dark green, about 3 minutes. Stir in lime juice and 1 1/4 cups water. Let stand 1 hour. Strain into large bowl, pressing on solids. Transfer 1/2 cup lime syrup to small pitcher; cover and refrigerate. Pour remaining lime syrup into 13x9x2-inch metal baking dish. Place dish in freezer. Stir syrup with fork every hour until frozen, about 4 hours. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and keep frozen.)
Divide melon wedges among 8 shallow soup bowls. Drizzle melon with reserved lime syrup. Scrape granita into flakes with fork. Spoon generous 1/2 cup granita atop melon in each bowl. Sprinkle with sliced mint leaves, garnish with mint sprigs, and serve.