Lime Mint Granita

A hot summer day calls out for fluffy iced lime and mint.   There is no sweet, cold treat easier to throw together than granita so give this one a try at home.

Makes 1 1/2 cups

1 cup hot water
1/2 cup lime juice (about 4-5 limes)
1 teaspoon lime zest (optional)
4 tsp Sugar, or to taste
1 teaspoon fresh mint, finely sliced

Add hot water to a glass baking dish (don’t use a metal baking pan as the citrus will lift color from the pan and onto your granita).  Dissolve the sugar into the hot water and allow the water to cool down to room temperature. Roll the limes against a flat surface (to make juicing easier), cut in half and juice them into a measuring cup, then add the measured juice to the sugar water mixture.  Swirl the lime zest and chopped mint into the liquid.  Place baking dish in the freezer uncovered.  When an icy layer forms on the top (takes about 30 minutes), drag a fork back and forth through the mixture and then return it to freezer.  Keep repeating this step until all the liquid is frozen and fluffy (if you skip this process, you‘ll end up with a frozen block of ice which will be very difficult to scrape).  Fluff with a fork and serve immediately.

IDEAS

Substitute lime juice with fresh lemon, grapefruit, peach, apple or orange juice, etc. 
(If you’re using a sweeter juice, adjust the amount of added sugar accordingly)