I don’t know of anything more delicious than fresh fruit in the summertime.
Today I am sharing an EASY 3-ingredient watermelon granita you can prepare with just fresh watermelon, lime juice, and a little sugar.
It is one of those dishes you will love for an effortless weeknight treat or a fun dish to entertain with for the 4th of July weekend!
Each month Walmart challenges me to find a new way to use their fresh produce and this month’s challenge just-so-happens to be one of my favorite fruits…WATERMELON.
Hello, summer!
I woke up early one morning to make this dish and here is my early morning watermelon shot for you as the sun had not even risen.
I tend to operate best first thing after I have had my coffee. I’m sure you can relate (*ahem*).
I chose a seedless watermelon for this dish because trying to pick out seeds to prepare your granita is far too time-consuming for a busy mom especially when she has a full summer day of kids.
If you have a high- powered blender it is possible to pulverise them, but I save my blender the work and choose the seedless variety to make it easy on all parties involved.
How to Pick the Perfect Watermelon
There are three easy steps to selecting the perfect watermelon.
1. Lift Your Watermelon– Does it feel heavy? You want a watermelon that feels weighted and not light.
2. Check for the Yellow Dot– Watermelons have a yellow spot on them where they have rested and grown on the ground. You want to find one that has a creamy yellow spot on it because that showcases that it is a lovely ripe melon.
3. Thump It– Have you seen people thump their watermelons at the grocery store and wondered what that was all about? Sometimes I don’t think they even know why they do it. You are listening for a sound that indicates a great melon. It should have a deep hollow sound, but if it is too ripe or underripe, it will have a dull sound.
4. Dissatisfied? Bring it Back– I didn’t tell you there was a fourth step, but if you should pick the wrong watermelon, Walmart will graciously give you a refund on it since they have a 100% freshness guarantee on their produce. Basically, it makes the process of selection foolproof, especially if that thumping bit gets confusing.
What is a Granita?
The word granita sounds awfully fancy to this Midwest girl’s ears, but it is actually not fancy at all.
A granita is a semi-frozen dessert traditionally made from sugar, water and various flavorings that originated in Sicily.
It’s a little like sorbet a little like Italian ice, but uniquely its own person with a texture that is a tin bit coarser.
Since the watermelon is in season and often on sale this time of year, I decided to use it to make the granita.
All you do for this recipe is give it a whirl through your blender.
After blending your cubed watermelon, fresh lime juice, and sugar, pour it into a 9×13″ dish and slide it in your freezer.
Every half hour or so, take a peek and give it a scrape with a fork to move things around.
Keep doing this every once in awhile and then after about three-four hours of freezing time, your dessert should be ready for serving.
I wish there was more to tell you about this dish, but it really is as easy as that.
It’s a frugal way to incorporate more fresh fruit and is best served with lots of spoons on a hot summer’s day!
Looking for more ideas to try with fresh produce this summer? Be sure to check out my Baked Strawberry Doughnuts, my Blueberry Sangria Lemonade, my Grilled Tomato Bread With Prosciutto, my Fresh Peach Sorbet, our Slow Cooker Honey Crisp Apple Oatmeal, and my fresh Gluten-Free Orange Chicken for some fun ways to incorporate fresh produce in your family’s diet!
For more watermelon ideas, check out this Watermelon-Strawberry Smoothie from Mommy’s Kitchen & this Watermelon Margarita from Presley’s Pantry. Oh, yum!
3-Ingredient Watermelon Granita
6-8 cups cubed seedless watermelon
1/3 cup sugar
Juice of 2 limes
Add your cubed watermelon, sugar, and lime juice to your blender. Blend until smooth. Pour it all into a 9×13 metal pan and freeze for one hour. Using a fork, scrape to loosen the granita. Freeze for another hour and repeat. After it has been frozen for three hours, scrape it once more and then serve in a hollowed watermelon or in cups.
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