Whether you like it coarse (made by hand) or more smooth (made by machine), this pomegranate granita is a delicious and refreshing treat for everyone to enjoy! Find more of my pomegranate recipes.
To say my family loves pomegranates is quite an understatement. We absolutely adore them and eat them in every way possible and as much as possible. When friends have extra pomegranates from their trees, they invite us to pick the tree clean. This has become a ritual for us every fall, when pomegranate season is at its peak.
We don’t just love eating pomegranates in recipes, but we eat them straight out of the husk. We also love pomegranate juice and have juiced many a pomegranate so we can drink some fresh delicious pomegranate juice. The kids drink it straight up and the hubs and I love it in cocktails.
Of course, you don’t have to juice a pomegranate to enjoy pomegranate juice. You can find it quite easily nowadays in the grocery store. And pomegranate juice takes us to this next recipe for Pomegranate Granita.
What is the difference between sorbet and granita?
In its simplest form, sorbet is made from water and fruit puree or juice. You can also add sugar to it, depending on how sweet you like it. It contains no milk, cream or eggs. If it did, then it would be a sherbet.
A “granita” is a semi-frozen Italian dessert typically made with fruit juice, also known as “Italian Ice.” Different regions of Italy yields different textures of granita. A granita is more crunchy than the smoother sorbet.
If you like your granita coarse, then the best way is to make it by hand. And if you like a smoother granita, then it’s best to use an ice cream machine and stop when you get the texture you like.
The best juice for granita
You can make granita from any kind of juice. If the juice you are using is sweet, then you don’t need to add sugar. Since I am using pomegranate juice, which is a little tart, I only add a couple of tablespoons of sugar for this pomegranate granita.
You can purchase pomegranate juice or juice a pomegranate yourself. In another post, I share multiple ways to juice a pomegranate.
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You can make a granita that contains alcohol, but remember that alcohol does not freeze. So if you want to make a boozy granita, make sure you are mixing it with some other kind of liquid that does freeze.
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How to make granita by hand
To make pomegranate granita, you can use an ice cream maker or make it by hand. Pomegranate juice is mixed with a little sugar, lemon juice and lemon zest and the poured into an ice cream machine until it starts to freeze. When it is in the slushee stage, you can transfer it to serving bowls and enjoy.
But you don’t need an ice cream maker to make granita. Pour your juice mix into a freezer safe bowl and place it in the freezer for a few hours. Once the pomegranate juice concoction starts to freeze, use a fork to scrape it into large crystals then transfer to serving glasses and enjoy!
A terrific way to beat the heat or just enjoy some delicious pomegranate goodness.
If you want other vegan pomegranate desserts, you should try my pomegranate marshmallows, pomegranate jello and my pomegranate and red wine poached pears.
Pomegranate Granita
Ingredients
- 2 cup pomegranate juice
- 2 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients and whisk together until combined.
- Pour into a 9-inch baking dish and carefully place in the freezer.
- Freeze until solid, about 3-4 hours.
- Use a fork to scrape into large crystals and spoon granita into chilled glasses.
- You can also prepare this in an ice cream machine, which yields a smoother texture. Just pour the mixed ingredients into your machine and turn it on. After 15 minutes, you will have your frozen treat ready.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.
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