Granita Siciliana
Granita Siciliana is a refreshing, crystalline frozen dessert originating from Sicily. It's traditionally enjoyed for breakfast, often served with a soft, sweet brioche bun called 'brioche col tuppo' for dipping. This recipe offers a guide to making a classic fruit or coffee granita.
🧂 Ingredients
- 500 g/ml Fresh fruit (e.g., strawberries, lemons, mulberries, peaches) or strong brewed coffee(For fruit, use ripe, flavorful options. For coffee, a strong espresso or moka pot brew is recommended.)
- 100-150 g Granulated sugar(Adjust to taste and the sweetness of your fruit. Start with 100g and add more if needed.)
- 200 ml Water(Used to create a simple syrup base.)
- 6 Brioche col tuppo(Optional, but traditional for serving. Can be store-bought or homemade.)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Prepare the base: If using fruit, wash, hull/peel, and chop it. Puree the fruit in a blender or food processor until smooth. If using coffee, brew it strong and let it cool slightly.
⏱️ 10 minutes - 2
Make the syrup: In a small saucepan, combine the water and sugar. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar is completely dissolved. Do not boil. Remove from heat and let it cool to room temperature.
⏱️ 5 minutes - 3
Combine and chill: Pour the cooled syrup into the fruit puree or cooled coffee. Stir well to combine. If using lemon or lime juice for fruit granita, add it now. Taste and adjust sweetness if necessary. For optimal texture, chill the mixture in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
⏱️ 5 minutes + 30 minutes chilling - 4
Begin freezing: Pour the chilled mixture into a shallow, freezer-safe pan (metal pans freeze faster). Place it in the freezer.
⏱️ 30 minutes - 5
Scrape and freeze: After about 30-45 minutes, when the edges start to freeze, remove the pan from the freezer. Use a fork to scrape the frozen crystals from the edges towards the center. Break up any large ice chunks. Return the pan to the freezer. Repeat this scraping process every 30 minutes for 3-4 hours, or until the granita has a light, fluffy, crystalline texture.
⏱️ 3-4 hours (intermittent scraping) - 6
Serve: Once the desired texture is achieved, the granita is ready. Scoop it into chilled bowls or glasses. Serve immediately with a brioche col tuppo for dipping, or as a refreshing standalone dessert.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓The key to granita's signature texture is frequent scraping. This breaks up ice crystals as they form, preventing it from becoming a solid block of ice.
- ✓Using a metal pan will help the mixture freeze more evenly and quickly.
- ✓For a smoother granita, you can process the scraped mixture briefly in a food processor before the final freeze.
- ✓Traditionally, granita is enjoyed as a light breakfast in Sicily, often accompanied by a sweet brioche bun.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Classic flavors include lemon, coffee, almond, mulberry, and strawberry.
- Experiment with other fruits like watermelon, peach, or apricot.
- Add a splash of liqueur (like limoncello for lemon granita) for an adult twist.