Jefes Grand 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.

FRESH STRAWBERRY GRANITA

Steps:

• Rinse strawberries with cold water; let drain. Transfer berries to a blender and add sugar, water, lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, and salt.
• Pulse several times to get the mixture moving, then blend until smooth, about 1 minute. Pour into a large baking dish. Puree should only be about 3/8 inch deep in the dish.
• Place dish uncovered in the freezer until mixture barely begins to freeze around the edges, about 45 minutes. Mixture will still be slushy in the center.
• Lightly stir the crystals from the edge of the granita mixture into the center, using a fork, and mix thoroughly. Close 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 the granita is light, crystals are separate, and granita looks dry and fluffy.
• Portion granita into small serving bowls to serve.

JEFES GRAND GRANITA

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, bring water, sugar, orange zest & mint to the boil. Reduce heat immediately and simmer until sugar dissolves (It's important to make sure the sugar dissolves completely, otherwise it's a disaster).
• Strain to remove the mint, then put the syrup back into the pan.
• Add apples & cook until the apples are soft and pulpy. Take saucepan off heat and allow to cool (you can cheat & put this in the fridge if you like to speed the process up)
• Put orange juice, lemon juice, and orange-flavored liqueur or Grand Marnier (if you're using them) into a blender along with the apple-mint syrup. Blend until smooth.
• Food Processor Method - Pour the granita mixture into a freezer proof dish, cover with plastic wrap and allow to freeze solid - for best results overnight.
• Remove from the freezer about 10 minutes before serving - this allows it to soften slightly - then either process the granita in a food processor or use a fork scrape it into fine crystals.
• Alternative method - Place plastic wrap over pan and place pan in freezer. After 45 min or when ice-crystals have begun to form around edges of pan, use a fork to scrape up frozen chunks and mix into the rest of the frozen mixture. Return to freezer and continue to "rake" granita every 30 to 45 minutes until there isn't any liquid left in the granita.
• To serve spoon granita into dishes or glasses and garnish with mint. Serves 4 - 6.

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.