Pomegranate Granita Recipes

POMEGRANATE GRANITA

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the 2 juices and season with sugar, to taste. Pour into a 9 by 13-inch baking dish. Carefully place in freezer and freeze until solid, about 4 hours. Use a fork to scrape into large crystals and spoon granita into chilled glasses. Serve immediately.

POMEGRANATE AND ROSE GRANITA

Steps:

• Add sugar and 7 tablespoons/100 milliliters water to a small saucepan and place over high heat. Stir continuously, until sugar has dissolved and the liquid comes to the boil.
• Add mint, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 1 minute, stirring occasionally.
• Remove from heat and set aside to cool, about 20 minutes. Strain the syrup into a large bowl, pressing on the mint to extract the water. Discard the mint.
• Whisk the pomegranate juice and rose water into the syrup until combined. Pour into a container and freeze for 2 to 3 hours, until clumps form and the edges are solid. (The shallower the container, the shorter the freezing time.) Use a fork to separate the crystals and freeze for another 2 hours. Repeat with the fork again, scraping the tines across the frozen mixture, and continue this process until the liquid has frozen into separate crystals throughout, about 8 to 10 hours total.
• Just before serving, divide the granita between small glasses and sprinkle with the pomegranate seeds and rose petals.

POMEGRANATE GRANITA

Steps:

• Slice off the top and bottom of the pomegranates, then break them apart and remove the seeds. With your hands, squeeze all of the juice out of the seeds, then push the mixture through a sieve, pressing down gently to extract as much juice as possible without pushing the bitter skins through.
• Discard the seeds. In a large shallow glass baking dish that will fit in your freezer, combine the juice with the sugar and stir until the sugar has dissolved (place the pan over a very low flame if desired to speed the dissolving of the sugar). Freeze for 4 hours, stirring every 15 minutes.
• Scrape the surface of the ice with a spoon into large flaky crystals.
• Refreeze if desired. The granita should be served as a chunky ice, not a smooth sorbet.

WHITE CHOCOLATE MOUSSE WITH POMEGRANATE GRANITA

Steps:

• Combine 2 cups pomegranate juice and 1/4 cup sugar in 8 x 8 x 2-inch glass baking dish. Stir mixture until sugar dissolves. Cover and freeze until granita is firm, at least 8 hours or overnight.
• Combine remaining 2 cups pomegranate juice and 3 tablespoons sugar in heavy medium saucepan. Bring to boil, stirring mixture until sugar dissolves. Boil until mixture is syrupy and reduced to generous 1/2 cup, 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer syrup to small bowl. Chill until cold, at least 2 hours. DO AHEAD: Granita and pomegranate syrup can be made 3 days ahead. Keep granita frozen. Keep pomegranate syrup chilled.
• Place chopped white chocolate and pinch of salt in medium metal bowl. Pour 1/2 cup cream into small saucepan. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean and bring to boil, whisking to blend. Remove vanilla bean. Pour hot cream mixture over chocolate in bowl; let stand 1 minute, then whisk until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Cool until barely lukewarm, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Using electric mixer, beat remaining 1/2 cup cream in large bowl until stiff peaks form. Fold in barely lukewarm melted chocolate mixture in 2 additions, then fold in crème fraîche. Divide mousse among 6 dessert glasses, leaving enough space at top of glasses to spoon granita over. Cover and chill until mixture firms up slightly, at least 8 hours or overnight. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled.
• Using fork, scrape surface of granita, forming icy flakes. Top each glass of mousse with generous amount of granita, dividing equally. Drizzle each lightly with pomegranate syrup. Sprinkle with pomegranate seeds and serve immediately.

POMEGRANATE GRANITA

Steps:

• Place the ice, Cointreau, rum, and pomegranate syrup into a blender, blend until smooth. Moisten the rim of a tumbler with the cut edge of the orange slice, and dip the glass into the sugar to line the rim. Pour the granita into the glass, and garnish with the orange slice to serve.