Strawberry + Lime + Basil Granita

So while not everyone across America shares my pain of growing up in 100+ degree summer weather, let me paint the picture for you. It’s summer in Texas, you have just showered and got dressed to meet your friends to watch the fireworks for 4th of July. You walk out the door and BOOM it hits you. A wall of heat that immediately makes you start sweating...ew, gross. You run to the car and blast the air conditioning, only to remember that you are about to go sit OUTSIDE in a park and sweat all over your cute outfit just to watch the fireworks. Oh well, you say, that’s just Texas for ya. That is how it feels all summer long! I was lucky to grow up in Austin with 2 lakes to cool off in, but for those days you weren’t by the pool or in a lake, how do you cool off? Stay inside and miss the fun? No way! Instead, we would often go get a giant shaved ice and be on our way. But what if you don’t have a snow cone machine or shaved ice stand nearby?

Don’t fret. You can still make your own and the best part is that it's EASY PEASY. Us chefs use the word “granita” to make it sound more fancy than it really is, but granita is just the combination of water, sugar, and flavorings of your choice. No need to be boring here because you have endless options right at your fingertips!

What is my flavor of choice? Summer = berries, which means my favorite fruit, strawberries, are going to be the star. I add in a little flavor of basil and lime and just like that I have a fresh take on granita that will for sure cool me down AND satisfy my palate. So how easy is it? All you need is a small pot, a blender, and a medium size baking pan to whip it together. The key is having the right sugar to water ratio so that it sets up nicely and isn’t too watery or crystal like. My recipe will give you sweet and crisp flakes while being soft and melting right on your tongue. Whip this up in advance and scoop it for your friends at your backyard 4th of July party, or give it to your kids as an afternoon treat, OR be all grown-up like and make it a nice icy floater in your cocktail to really cool you down. The possibilities are endless!

*Bonus tip: substitute blackberries or blueberries instead of strawberries (as long as they weigh 1 lb) and substitute any herb (like mint!) to steep in the simple syrup and you have a whole new recipe!

Ingredients:

1 lb California Giant strawberries, stems removed

3⁄4 cup sugar

3⁄4 cup water

10 basil leaves

Zest of 1 lime

Juice of 1 lime

Directions:

In a small sauce pot, combine sugar and water and bring just to a boil. Add basil leaves and allow to steep in refrigerator until cool. While syrup is cooling, place a medium/large baking dish in your freezer to chill.

In a blender, blend together strawberries, basil syrup, lime zest and lime juice until smooth. Pour into chilled baking dish, place back in freezer, and allow to freeze for 30 minutes. Using a fork, gently scrape down ice crystals starting to form. Continue to freeze for 2 hours, scraping every 45 min or so until a flaked ice like texture. Scoop into a small cup and enjoy!