Sicilian Granita Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between sorbet and granita? ›

Like sorbet, granitas are often made from a puree of fruit, sugar, and water. The difference is in their texture. Unlike sorbets, which are smooth-churned, granita purees are scraped repeatedly during the freezing process, loosening their structure into icy flakes.

A Sicilian specialty, granita is a cold, sweet treat made from water, sugar, and fruit that is never completely frozen. It's mixed continuously to obtain a texture that is simultaneously grainy and creamy.

Granita drink is a typical cold dessert of Sicilian cuisine; a semi-frozen liquid compound prepared with water, sugar and fruit juice or other ingredients such as almond, pistachio, coffee…

Granita is a frozen fruit dessert made from fresh fruit and water, blended and frozen until icy, flaked with a fork and frozen again. The result is a delightfully crunchy, melt-in-your-mouth fruit ice, perfect eating all on its own. When served on everything from yogurt to co*cktails, it becomes a complete game-changer.

Almond. This is the most popular flavour, and the addition of bitter almonds enhances the aroma.

Granita (Italian: [ɡraˈniːta]; in Italian also granita siciliana, Italian: [ɡraˈniːta sitʃiˈljaːna]) is a semi-frozen dessert made from sugar, water and various flavorings. Originally from Sicily, it is available throughout Italy in varying forms.

Over centuries, Sicily has been a melting pot of civilizations, including Greek, Roman, Arab, Norman, and Spanish influences, creating a distinct cultural tapestry that sets it apart. This historical amalgamation is evident in its architecture, language, cuisine, and social customs.

In Sicily, granita is not enjoyed all by itself - it's almost always consumed with an accompanying bun of fluffy brioche (and the brioche buns have a bun of their own: a little ball on top of the dough called a tuppo in reference to the low-bun hairstyle popularized by Sicilian women).

The Wines of Sicily

Western Sicily is synonymous with Bianco d'Alcamo, a crisp white, and of course the sweet, thick Marsala has delighted palates for centuries. Nero d'Avola and Cerasuolo di Vittoria, with their deep red hues, are products of southeastern Sicily.

What liquor is Sicily known for? ›

Amaro Averna is an Italian liqueur in the Amaro category produced in Caltanissetta, Italy. It is named after its inventor, Salvatore Averna, who invented the recipe in 1868. This drink is produced on the Island of Sicily and is considered a traditional drink.

Frappés are often confused with granitas, despite being two very different drinks. While frappés are shaken with ice cubes, granitas are prepared by pouring an espresso over crushed ice to cool it down.

The texture of authentic granita is halfway between the creaminess of gelato and the granularity of sorbetto. Granita contains small ice crystals which you should feel with your tongue; the ice crystals should be compact, not liquid and soft like a sorbet.

While similar to Italian ice, a granita does not have the same smooth consistency. Granitas can be thought of as a fancy snow cone with finely ground ice rather than a whipped creamy creation like Italian ice. Italian ice has more air beaten into the mixture resulting in the smoother texture.

This icy dessert fits into the same equation of sorbet and sherbet, as starts with the same base ingredients: fruit and sugar. However, unlike sorbet which is then frozen and churned, granita is spread into a layer and frozen.

The major difference between the two is that sherbet is made with dairy and sorbet isn't. Sherbet has more of a creamy texture that you'd expect from ice cream thanks to ingredients like milk, heavy cream, or buttermilk in the mix. Sorbet, on the other hand, is simply sugar and fruit.

The texture of authentic granita is halfway between the creaminess of gelato and the granularity of sorbetto. Granita contains small ice crystals which you should feel with your tongue; the ice crystals should be compact, not liquid and soft like a sorbet.

But what makes one frozen fruity treat different from the other? It's simple: While slushies are made in a machine and flavored with sugary syrup, granitas are made from hand-shaved ice and commonly flavored with fruit juice or purée.