Beverages

Refreshing French Strawberry Granita

Name: Refreshing French Strawberry Granita
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: 500 grams Fresh Strawberries (hulled); 100 grams Granulated Sugar; 250 ml Water; 2 tablespoons Fresh Lemon Juice; 1 teaspoon Orange Blossom Water (optional); 1 pinch Salt; 2 sprigs Fresh Mint Sprigs (for garnish, optional); 100 ml Sparkling Water or Chilled Rosé Wine (for serving, optional)

15 min4 servingsEasy180 cal

Glace à la fraise, though often referring to rich ice cream, can also encompass lighter, refreshing frozen treats like this French strawberry granita. Originating from Sicily but embraced globally, granitas are icy, flavorful desserts perfect for warm weather, and this rendition highlights the simple elegance of French fruit preparations. It's a delightful, non-alcoholic option that feels both sophisticated and incredibly invigorating, making it a perfect summer beverage.

Ingredients

500 grams Fresh Strawberries (hulled)
100 grams Granulated Sugar
250 ml Water
2 tablespoons Fresh Lemon Juice
1 teaspoon Orange Blossom Water (optional)
1 pinch Salt
2 sprigs Fresh Mint Sprigs (for garnish, optional)
100 ml Sparkling Water or Chilled Rosé Wine (for serving, optional)

Instructions

1
Prepare the simple syrup: In a small saucepan, combine the water and granulated sugar. Heat over medium heat, stirring until the sugar completely dissolves. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
2
Prepare strawberries: Wash and hull the fresh strawberries.
3
Blend ingredients: In a blender, combine the hulled strawberries, cooled simple syrup, fresh lemon juice, orange blossom water (if using), and a pinch of salt. Blend until completely smooth.
4
Strain (optional): For a smoother granita, pass the strawberry mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a shallow freezer-safe dish (like a baking pan or Pyrex dish) to remove any seeds or pulp.
5
Freeze and scrape: Place the dish in the freezer. After 30-45 minutes, use a fork to scrape the partially frozen mixture, breaking up any ice crystals forming around the edges.
6
Repeat scraping: Continue freezing and scraping every 30-45 minutes for about 3-4 hours, until the entire mixture is frozen into icy, flaky crystals.
7
Serve: Scoop the Glace à la Fraise granita into chilled glasses or bowls. Garnish with fresh mint sprigs. For a more 'beverage' experience, you can serve it slightly melted or with a splash of sparkling water or chilled rosé wine.

Chef's Tips

•For the best flavor, always use ripe, in-season strawberries, as their natural sweetness will shine through.
•To achieve an even deeper red color, you can add a tiny drop of red food coloring to the mixture before freezing, though it's purely for aesthetics.
•To serve this as a more pronounced refreshing drink, you can blend the granita with a splash of cold sparkling water or chilled rosé wine just before serving, creating a delicious slushy.