Description
A refreshing and vibrant Lemon and Basil Granita recipe that combines tangy lemon juice with aromatic basil for a perfect summer frozen dessert. This easy-to-make granita is dairy-free, vegan, and offers a delightful icy texture with a balance of sweet and herbaceous flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice (from about 4–5 lemons)
- 2 tablespoons finely grated lemon zest
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves (packed)
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Dissolve the Sugar: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the water and sugar. Stir continuously until the sugar has completely dissolved, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the pan from heat once dissolved.
- Steep Basil and Lemon Zest: Add the finely grated lemon zest and fresh basil leaves to the hot syrup. Let this mixture steep for 15 minutes to infuse the flavors.
- Strain the Syrup: After steeping, strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl, discarding the solids to ensure a smooth texture.
- Add Lemon Juice and Salt: Stir in the fresh lemon juice and a pinch of salt into the strained syrup, mixing well to combine all flavors.
- Freeze the Granita: Pour the syrup into a shallow metal or glass baking dish and place it in the freezer.
- Scrape Ice Crystals: After 30 minutes, use a fork to scrape the frozen edges to break up ice crystals. Repeat scraping every 30 minutes for 3 to 4 hours until the granita is fully frozen and fluffy.
- Serve or Store: Serve the granita immediately as a refreshing dessert or store it in an airtight container in the freezer for later enjoyment.
Notes
- For a stronger basil flavor, allow the basil leaves to steep for longer before straining.
- You can blend the basil leaves into the syrup for a greener color and more intense herbaceous taste.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Freezing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: 110
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
