Mixed Berry Granitas

MIXED BERRY GRANITAS

You know we’re headed into spring when the temperatures rise just a bit, and the granitas come out in full force. I’m not mad at it, and I always love a good mixed berry version.

This recipe is super simple. Just get some simple syrup ready, and some added pomegranate juice.

To save a lot of time, I do buy the pre-cut pack of fruit at Heinens. You’ll need 3.5 cups of mixed berry fruit, so it’s great if you can get it, to buy chopped. If not, no sweat, you can buy the whole fruits, because they will be chopped in the food processor anyway.

When I make fruit granitas, they tend to be more tangy and bitter on their own, since the recipe is very simplistic. Usually, it’s just two ingredients. In this version, I add a mixed berry simple syrup and some pomegranate juice to liven up that flavor profile. It also gives a better texture to the granita as opposed to the more shaved dry ice feel.

To make a mixed berry simple syrup, it’s real easy. I would make it hours before or the day before since I wouldn’t recommend boiling the mixture then freezing it with the fruit. It’s 1 part sugar to 1 part water, so in my case I like to make extra. I do 1 cup sugar, and 1 cup water, and bring to a boil with mashed handful of the fruit you bought. It will turn the simple syrup a wonderful purple/red color. When it’s boiled and the sugar is dissolved, strain out the fruit into a serving jar. That’s your simple syrup.

MIXED BERRY GRANITAS RECIPE

Ingredients

• 3.5 cups mixed berry fruit (strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, blueberry)

• 6 oz blackberry lemonade or a preferable flavored water

• 1/3 cup mixed berry simple syrup

• 3 tablespoons pomegranate juice

• mint and raspberry for garnish

Instructions

Mix all ingredients except garnish in a blender or food processor until smooth.

Pour into a 9” x 9” tray.

Place in freezer, and every 30 minutes, use a fork to scrape the edges to soften the frozen bits.

You will notice over the next 3-4 hours that it will get chunkier, and more frozen.

After 3-4 hours, it should be ready to serve.