Refreshing Honeydew Melon, Cucumber & Lime Granita

Summer time is great, its one of my favorite times of year, because I get to spend so much time with my family. The one thing I don’t like about summer is when it gets REALLY hot. We live in Southern California, so most of the time it is pretty nice around 70F/21c and mild, but at the end of the summer there is usually a few weeks that are just scorchingly hot…like 100F/37c. I don’t have any air conditioning in my house, and most of the time we don’t need it. However, when it gets this hot, my only alterative is to eat cool. I eat things that are cool like salad, and chilled fruit or COLD like a granita!

What is a Granita?

What is a granita you ask? Well a granita is a deliciously frozen desert usually made up of fruit puree and some simple syrup. Generally frozen on a flat glass or metal casserole pan. The procedure is easy, first you puree the fruit and simple syrup to a fine pulp. Then put it in your baking sheet and freeze it. In about 30 minutes into the freezing process you scrape the puree with a fork to break up the ice crystal. You repeat this step 4-6 times. Every 30 min to 1 hour ( or whenever you remember) you stick your head in the freezer, and scrape the granita until it looks like the dry upper portion of shaved ice, with the same lovey shaved ice texture.

Infinite Flavor possibilities

The flavor possibilities are infinite, and it is best to use your ripest most flavorful fruit. I also like adding a bit of citrus, and even some herbs like mint or cilantro. If you are feeling really creative you can flavor your syrup and add floral flavors, or spice like habanero or jalapeno syrup or you can add your favorite alcohol or liquor to make it an adult style Granita. Today we are going to be making one of the most refreshing combinations I could think of: Honeydew Melon, cucumber and lime granita, this is so simple but absolutely amazing and deliciously addiction. You should definitely give this super easy 4 ingredient recipe a try you will definitely thank me.

Honeydew Cucumber Lime Granita

This super easy 5 ingredient recipe is the epitome of summer refreshment. Give it a try today!

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 hours hrs

Course Appetizer, Dessert, Snack

Cuisine Italian

Equipment

• 9×13 metal or glass baking dish
• Food processor or blender

Ingredients

  

• 2 cups Honey Dew Melon The riper the better
• 1/2 cup Cucumber (peeled)
• 1/4 cup Lime (more if you like things sour)
• 1/4 cup Simple Syrup See ingredients and directions below

Simple Syrup

• 1/4 cup Sugar
• 1/4 cup Water

Instructions

 

Simple Syrup

• Add 1/4 sugar to 1/4 cup water in a small sauce pan.
• Heat to medium and allow the sugar to disolve
• Take off the heat, put it in a heat proof container, and place in the refigerator to allow it to cool – this may be done a day or two in advance.
• This will be added to the fruit puree, you dont want it to be burning hot, or it will cook your fresh fruit.

Honeydew Cucumber Lime puree

• In a food processor or blender add your honeydew melon and cucumber. I like to cut it up into large 2×2 inch chunks so that it blends a little more easily.
• Process on high speed until it is smooth and their are no large chunks.
• Add lime and simple syrup to the fruit puree and blend until totally smooth.
• Pour into the baking pan and place into the freezer.
• After about 30-40 min take out and scrape the eddges and bottom of the fruit puree with a fork, in order to break up the ice crystals and make a sort of shaved ice texture.
• Repeat the above step 4-5 more times.
• Once the granita is frozen completely and resembles shave ice, you it is ready to enjoy.
• This keeps well in the freezer for up to 3 weeks.

Keyword Cucumber Melon Lime, Granita, Honeydew Melon, Honeydew Melon Cucumber and Lime Granita, Icee, Melon

Need more cool recipes? Coco Chocolate Chip Caramel Cherry Ice cream