When the summer heat becomes unbearable, watermelon granita should be made an everyday routine. To stay cool, you don't need to look for the nearest Sicilian ice-cream parlor, why not prepare it at home. Careful though, it could be a double-edged sword and you’ll have to boycott swimsuit season.
How to prepare watermelon granita
Watermelon juice, sugar and a little patience - that's all it takes to prepare the watermelon version of this wonderful Sicilian dessert. Like any self-respecting granita, it should be accompanied with the typical Sicilian brioche with "tuppo": a sort of small pan brioche, with a "hat". Unlike coffee granita, watermelon granita cream is perhaps a little excessive, given the sweetness and freshness of the fruit.
The recipe for watermelon slush
Cut a watermelon into slices, remove the skin and seeds and pass it through the blender. Filter the liquid obtained and, for each liter, dissolve about 7 oz sugar in the juice. Add the sugar little by little. If the watermelon is already very sweet, 5 oz may be enough, and vice versa you might need to increase the dose. Now pour the sweetened watermelon juice into a low and wide container, possibly airtight. Close it and put the watermelon granita in the freezer for one hour. After this time, turn it around with a fork. Repeat the same procedure three more times. After a total of four hours the granita is then ready to be served.
Tips and secrets
Keep in mind that the cold reduces the sweetness. This means that the watermelon granita will be less sweet than the original sweetened juice before you put it in the freezer. So, if you're afraid you've added too much sugar to the juice, don't worry, the end result will probably be perfect. Even if it's tedious to have to stir the granita every hour, this is what makes the difference and will ensure you get the right consistency. There is a strong temptation to make ice cubes with watermelon juice and then chop them down with a powerful blender, but you won't get a granita. If you want to add an aromatic note of flavor, infuse a handful of jasmine flowers in four tablespoons of water overnight. The next day, add the flavored water to the watermelon juice and proceed according to the recipe.