Cucumber Aquavit Granita Recipes

CUCUMBER AQUAVIT GRANITA

Steps:

• Coarsely chop enough of cucumbers to measure 4 1/2 cups and purée in a blender with remaining ingredients in 2 batches until smooth. Pour into an 8- to 9-inch baking pan.
• Freeze, stirring and crushing lumps with a fork every hour, until evenly frozen, about 4 hours total. Scrape with a fork to lighten texture, crushing any lumps.
• Serve immediately or freeze, covered, up to 3 days (rescrape to lighten texture again if necessary).

CUCUMBER GRANITA

Steps:

• Peel the cucumbers, cut them in half lengthwise and remove seeds. Cut the cucumbers into chunks.
• Puree the cucumbers in a blender (or use an immersion blender) with the lemon juice, onion, green pepper, salt, mint, oil and water. This makes about 2 1/2 cups puree.
• Pour the cucumber puree into two 9-inch metal cake pans. Freeze.
• To serve, remove the granita from freezer 5 minutes before serving. Use a fork to scrape the ice into mounds. Add the scraped ice to the gazpacho immediately before serving. Or use an ice cream scoop or cookie scoop to make small balls of granita to garnish cocktails, cold soup or just as a palate cleanser.

CUCUMBER-LIME GRANITA

Steps:

• Line shallow dish with parchment paper. In 2-quart saucepan, beat sugar and water with whisk until blended. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer until mixture becomes a thin syrup. Cool.
• Remove most of peel from cucumbers. With spoon, scoop out seeds. Chop cucumber into cubes.
• In blender, place cucumbers, lime juice and syrup. Cover; blend until smooth. Pour into dish. Cover; freeze 2 to 3 hours or until completely frozen.
• Rake fork through mixture. Serve immediately, or return granita to freezer until ready to serve.