frozen grape granita

For the longest time, my eldest grandson loved purple grapes. They were his go-to snack after nap time, while green grapes never stood a chance. Then, two Sundays ago, he looked at his little bowl and simply said, “I don’t like them anymore.” Just like that. Suddenly, I was left with a bowl of untouched grapes.

Not one to waste good fruit, I slipped them into a bag and tucked them away in the freezer, figuring I’d think of something eventually. Fast forward to yesterday, while digging through the freezer for dinner inspiration, I stumbled across that forgotten bag. It was an aha! moment, and these frozen gems would become grape granita.  This icy treat is super easy to make. And the best part?  You do not need an ice cream maker to make this rustic dessert. I’ve made granita before, and each time I’m reminded how something so simple can taste so extraordinary.

you will need

whole grapes, washed and patted dry with a paper towel
1 to 2 tablespoons honey or sugar
1 to 2 teaspoons fresh lemon or lime juice

method

Place grapes in the freezer and remove when fully frozen (roughly four hours). Grab a food processor and add frozen grapes. Puree the grapes. Scraping down sides as needed.

My food processor comes with 2-sized bowls, and I decided the smaller one would be fine. Wrong!

It will be chunky at this point, but it will break down more once you add the honey and lemon juice. Process until smooth. Do a taste test and adjust the honey or lemon juice to your liking.  Scrape into a container of your choosing and allow the granita to firm up for about one hour before serving.

the culinary chase’s note:

Try blending in a few fresh mint leaves with the grapes as the flavours are a perfect match.  Enjoy!