Granité (not to be confused with granite) is a granular ice frozen without being stirred. It can be served at the mush stage or frozen hard, then scraped up in fine, feathery shavings. It’s particularly good topped with a little fruit liqueur or rum. It sounds like something that might be served on one of those Caribbean cruises or in a fancy restaurant.
1 quart of water
2 cups of sugar
1 cup or lemon or lime juice
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon or lime rind
A few drops of yellow and/or green food coloring.
Bring water and sugar to a boil in a saucepan, stirring, then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 5 minutes. Cool, mix in juice and rind, and tint pale yellow or green. Pour into 3 refrigerator trays, cover, and freeze to a mush without stirring. Spoon into goblets and serve or freeze hard, scrape up with a spoon and pile into goblets. About 130 calories per 1/2 cup serving.
Fruit Granité: Boil 3 cups water and 1 1/2 cups sugar into syrup as directed. Cool, add 2 tablespoons lemon juice and 2 cups puréed fruit (any berries, peaches, pineapple, sweet cherries). Omit the rind. Freeze and serve as directed. About 140-150 calories per 1/2 cup serving depending upon fruit used.
