Sicilian Coffee Granita Recipes

COFFEE GRANITA

Steps:

• In a bowl, stir together the coffee, sugar, vanilla and salt until the sugar dissolves. Pour into an 8-inch square baking dish and place in the freezer for 2 hours. Remove from the freezer and use a fork to scrape any of the ice that has formed.
• Return to the freezer for another 2 hours, then repeat the scraping. If the granita is still not frozen, return to the freezer again and repeat the scraping. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream on top or drowned with 1/2 ounce of limoncello.

COFFEE GRANITA

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients and stir until sugar melts. Pour mixture into 9 by 13-inch metal pan and place on level shelf in freezer for half an hour. (Mixture should only come about 1/4-inch up the side of the pan.) Remove and use a dinner fork to scrape any ice crystals that have formed on the side or bottom of the pan. Return to freezer and repeat scraping every 20 to 30 minutes for 3 to 4 hours. Once mixture is thoroughly frozen, fluff with a fork and allow flakes to "dry" in freezer another half hour before serving. When served, the granita should look like a fluffy pile of dry brown crystals.
• Scoop into goblets and top with barely sweetened whipped cream, add additional citrus zest if desired.

COFFEE GRANITA

Steps:

• Combine the coffee, sugar, coffee liqueur and vanilla and stir until the sugar dissolves. Pour the mixture into a 9-by-13-inch pan. Place the pan in the freezer for 1 hour, until the mixture starts to become slushy around the edges. Rake the mixture with a dinner fork to break up the crystals and place the pan back in the freezer. Every 30 minutes, rake the mixture, until it is completely frozen and granular throughout. Wrap well and keep frozen for a few hours, until ready to serve.
• Spoon the granita into bowls or stemmed glasses, such as martini glasses, and top with a dollop of whipped cream. Serve immediately.

COFFEE GRANITA WITH WHIPPED CREAM

Steps:

• Mix together the espresso, sugar, coffee liqueur and vanilla extract in a medium bowl until the sugar is completely dissolved. Pour the liquid into an 8-inch square glass baking dish and freeze. Every 30 minutes, remove the dish from the freezer and use a fork to scrape and break up the ice crystals. Repeat until the mixture is thoroughly frozen, about 4 hours.
• Spoon the granita into small glasses, dollop with the whipped cream and garnish with a mint leaf. Serve immediately.

AUTHENTIC SICILIAN GRANITA AL LIMONE

Steps:

• Pour water and sugar into a saucepan. Heat over medium, stirring until sugar melts; do not bring to a boil. Remove from heat when the sugar has completely dissolved and the water is no longer cloudy. Add lemon juice and stir until combined. Refrigerate until cold, about 30 minutes.
• Pour into a freezer-safe dish that has a tight lid. Cover and put into the freezer until it begins to freeze around the edges, but is still slushy in the center, about 45 minutes.
• Lightly stir the crystals from the edge of the granita mixture into the center using a fork and mix thoroughly. Replace the lid. Close the freezer and chill until granita is nearly frozen, 30 to 40 more minutes.
• Mix lightly with a fork as before, scraping the crystals loose. Repeat freezing and stirring with the fork 3 to 4 times until crystals are separate and the granita is light, dry, and fluffy.
• Serve each portion with 1/2 of a lemon wheel and fresh lemon zest on top.

COFFEE GRANITA

Steps:

• Stir water and sugar in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat until sugar dissolves and syrup boils 1 minute. Cool syrup. Mix in coffee. Pour mixture into medium-size metal bowl. Freeze until ice mixture is solid, about 3 hours.
• Using fork, scrape ice to form flakes. Return to freezer; keep frozen until ready to serve.
• Pile coffee granita into stemmed glasses. Top with generous amounts of whipped cream.

COFFEE GRANITA

Steps:

• Combine coffee, sugar, and coffee liqueur in a bowl with a whisk until sugar dissolves.
• Pour mixture into an 8x12- or 9x13-inch dish. Freeze, uncovered, until it just starts to get slushy around the outside, about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
• Take a fork and break the frozen pieces up, stirring into the liquid. Crush any large pieces with the back of the fork.
• Return to the freezer and repeat the process every 30 minutes until you've reached your desired consistency, about 4 to 5 times total.
• Serve immediately or return to the freezer and chill for 8 hours, or overnight, before serving for best results.

GRANITA DI CAFFE CON PANNA (ITALIAN COFFEE GRANITA)

Steps:

• Bring water and sugar to a boil in a small saucepan; simmer until a candy thermometer reads 250 degrees F (120 degrees C), about 5 minutes.
• Remove saucepan from heat; add coffee and vanilla extract. Pour into a metal bowl and mix well. Cool granita mixture to room temperature, about 10 minutes. Freeze for 1 hour.
• Stir the granita vigorously to break up ice crystals. Repeat freezing and breaking up process 4 to 5 more times, 2 to 2 1/2 hours total.
• Drop spoonfuls of whipped cream into 4 short glasses. Divide granita mixture evenly among the glasses. Top with remaining whipped cream.