The lemon granita is one of the symbols of the Italian summer: fresh, fragrant, and refreshing, it is the perfect dessert to enjoy on sunny afternoons or after a light meal. Today we show you how to prepare it at home with an easy recipe, without needing an ice cream maker and with only three ingredients. The procedure is really practical: a syrup is prepared with water and sugar, it is combined with lemon juice and frozen in classic ice cube trays. Once frozen, just blend them to get a granita with the perfect texture and intense lemon flavor.
This recipe allows you to always have ready cubes in the freezer, to be transformed on occasion into an express dessert, ideal to serve to guests or to enjoy as a fresh evening treat. Moreover, it is a natural and customizable preparation, perfect even for those looking for a light and refreshing dessert.
Also discover:
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Very cheap
- Rest time: 4 Hours
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 4People
- Cooking methods: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Summer, Ferragosto
- Energy 80.75 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 20.87 (g) of which sugars 20.87 (g)
- Proteins 0.28 (g)
- Fat 0.01 (g) of which saturated 0.00 (g)of which unsaturated 0.00 (g)
- Fibers 0.61 (g)
- Sodium 3.99 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 100 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients for preparing Lemon Granita without an Ice Cream Maker
- 200 ml lemon juice
- 1.7 cups water
- 0.6 cups sugar
- 1 lemon
- 4 leaves mint
Tools for preparing Lemon Granita without an Ice Cream Maker
- Citrus Juicer
- Saucepan
- Spoon
- Ice Cube Trays
- Blender
- 4 Glasses
How to prepare Lemon Granita without an Ice Cream Maker
Squeeze the lemons until you get 200 ml of juice. Strain it if necessary.
In a saucepan, pour the water and sugar. Mix well and bring to a boil. As soon as it boils, lower the heat and let it cook for 10 minutes, obtaining a light syrup.
Let the syrup cool completely.
Add the lemon juice to the cooled syrup and mix carefully to combine.
Pour the mixture into the ice cube trays and freeze for at least 4 hours, or until they are completely frozen.
To serve, blend the cubes in a blender at maximum power, until you achieve a soft and grainy texture.
Pour into glasses, decorate with lemon slices and fresh mint, and serve immediately.
Storage
The cubes can be stored in the freezer for up to 1 month in an airtight container. Once blended, the granita should be consumed immediately to maintain its texture.
Variations
Lemon and Ginger Granita: add 1 teaspoon of fresh ginger juice to the syrup.
Lemon and Mint Granita: blend a few mint leaves together with the cubes.
Light version: reduce the sugar to 90g for a lighter granita, although slightly less soft.
Tips
Use organic lemons to avoid pesticide residues and take advantage of the peel if you want to further flavor.
If the lemons are very sour, you can slightly increase the amount of sugar.
The blender must be powerful: if it’s not, leave the cubes at room temperature for 5 minutes before blending.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Can I use ready-made lemon juice?
Not recommended: fresh juice has a much more intense and natural aroma.
Can it be made without a blender?
Yes, but you will need to crush the cubes with a pestle or a powerful immersion blender.
Can I use a sweetener instead of sugar?
Yes, but the result will be less creamy, as sugar helps the right consistency.
How much granita is obtained?
With these quantities, you will get about 650 g of granita, enough for 4-6 servings depending on the size of the glass.
