Flaky, melt-in-the-mouth crunchy icy goodness, this summer thyme strawberry granita recipe is the perfect refreshing treat!
It’s a super simple process to whip up your very own homemade granita and it makes for such a great dessert to serve up at a dinner party or gathering.
Before we get onto the recipe, I thought it would also be helpful to first introduce you all to what granita is, how it’s made and the steps involved in the process (hint: it’s super easy!).
What is Granita?
Granita is a frozen Italian dessert. It resembles sorbet but is made by hand and is fluffy flavourful flakes of ice.
The process involves freezing a liquid such as juice, blended fruits, coffee, champagne, wine, lemonade or tea and then using a fork to scrape up the mixture into icy flakes. These flakes are carefully scooped and piled together to serve and eat immediately while still cold before it all melts into a puddle of deliciousness.
Granita can be sweet or savoury and eaten on its own or combined with other elements to complete a dish. It also works well as a palate cleanser in between dishes or courses on a menu due to its clean, light and refreshing qualities.
Strawberry Granita Recipe Ingredients…
This strawberry thyme granita requires minimal, mostly fresh ingredients to throw together for a quick and easy solution to the summer heat.
Here’s what you’ll need to whip up your batch…
Thyme Sugar Syrup:
- Water: For the basis of the sugar syrup, which gets combined with sugar to make a lovely sweet mixture. No special water is required for this one, just your regular standard water – drinkable tap or otherwise works well.
- Caster sugar: The second foundation ingredient for the sugar syrup which helps to add a bit of sweetness. Caster sugar is the superfine variety of sugar, which dissolves easily. You could replace it with white sugar, if necessary.
- Fresh Thyme: Thyme is a subtle, fragrant herb with a hint of mint. It adds a herbaceous note to the granita to pair with the fruity flavours and provide a bit of balance to the sweetness.
- Orange: Both the zest and the juice are used in this recipe to give the granita notes of citrus and complement the other flavours. Where possible organic would be a great option.
Strawberry Base:
- Fresh Strawberries: Hulled fresh strawberries are the basis for this granita. It’s best to use the freshest strawberries you can find (such as straight from a farmer’s market or berry farm) for the most flavourful outcome.
How to Make Strawberry Thyme Granita
1. Make the thyme sugar syrup
Start by heating the water, caster sugar and fresh thyme in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir the mixture until the sugar dissolves and then remove from the heat. This will only take about 3-5 minutes.
Mix in the freshly squeezed orange juice and orange zest. Set aside to cool slightly.
2. Make the Strawberry Base
Add hulled strawberries into a blender and blend until nice and smooth.
3. Combine the Strawberry and Thyme Syrup
Pour the cooled thyme syrup into the strawberry mixture and give a quick whizz to combine (10 seconds).
4. Pour into a Shallow Tray and Freeze
Pour the mixture into a shallow tray and place in the freezer for 2 hours.
TIP: Make sure the tray is placed flat in the freezer to ensure the mixture freezes evenly and prevent any spillage occurring!
5. Use a Fork to Scrap Up the Mixture
Once the mixture has frozen solid, the next step is to use a fork to scrape up the mixture into icy, fluffy flakes.
TIP: This is a great time to get some helping hands and make it a granita making party! It could even be a race… the faster the better really.
6. Return to the Freezer
Returned the fluffed-up mixture to the freezer again for a further 30 minutes to 1 hour minimum, to ensure it stays nicely cold and icy.
7. Garnish and Serve
The granita is now ready to serve! Add scoopfuls to glasses and then garnish with fresh strawberries, orange slices and thyme if desired.
This is best eaten immediately while it’s still nice and frozen. On hot summer days, the mixture will tend to melt easily, so serve only as required.
Tips for making the best granita
- Use fresh quality ingredients! As there are minimal ingredients in this recipe, every ingredient counts (and also contributes massively to the outcome!). Therefore it’s best to use all produce at its freshest point, the strawberries and orange particularly contribute to the overall sweetness of the granita.
- For removing thyme leaves from the stem – try doing it backwards! You can do this by using one hand to hold the base of the stem and the other to run along towards the top of the stem, stripping the leaves off as you go.
- This is often easier and removes the leaves cleanly as a whole, without damaging, tearing or bruising them.
- Fluff it up! To make sure you get a lovely light mixture full of fluffy ice flakes. A fork is really the only way to get the type of texture you’ll be looking for. It’s a necessary process to do after the initial freezing stage once it has turned solid.
- If necessary before serving, use a fork to break up any large clusters.
- Chill serving glasses. To maintain the coldness for a touch longer, chilling your serving glasses is recommended. All you have to do is place your desired glasses in the fridge while your granita is freezing and then when your granita is ready, spoon it in!
Storing Granita
Granita can be made a week in advance and stored in the freezer. Making it the perfect no-nonsense dessert for preparing beforehand. There is nothing better than having all the hard work already done, especially if you plan to serve it at a dinner party for guests!
Make sure it remains covered in the freezer and then serve as required. Leftovers work in the same way.
Tip: If you find the granita melting on you, return it to the freezer until it becomes workable i.e.: solid/ frozen and you can go ahead and fluff it up with a fork.
Summer Thyme Strawberry Granita Recipe
Equipment
- Blender
- Large shallow tray or baking dish
- Serving glasses
Ingredients
Thyme sugar syrup
- 180 ml water
- 60 g caster sugar
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
- 1 orange
Strawberry Base
- 500 g fresh strawberries hulled
Garnish (optional)
- fresh strawberries
- orange slices
- fresh thyme
Instructions
Thyme sugar syrup
- Combine the water, caster sugar and thyme in a small saucepan and bring to a boil, over low heat until the sugar dissolves, stirring frequently.
- Remove from the heat, stir in the zest and juice of an orange and set aside to cool.
Strawberry base
- In a blender, blitz the strawberries until smooth.
- Pour the cooled thyme syrup into the blended strawberries and blend to combine (10 seconds)
- Pour the mixture into a shallow tray/ baking dish and place in the freezer for two hours to chill.Meanwhile, place your serving glasses in the fridge to chill (optional but helps prevent the granita from melting faster when serving)
- Once frozen solid, use a fork to scrape up the mixture into icy fluffy flakes.
- Return to the freezer for a further 30 minutes – 1 hour (minimum).
Serve and garnish
- Scoop the granita into your chilled glasses and garnish with fresh strawberries, thyme and orange slices.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- Try fluffing up your granita with a fork just before serving if necessary to break up any clusters.
- This recipe can be made a week in advance and stored covered in the freezer until required!
If you give this summer thyme strawberry granita recipe a go, don’t forget to tag @theculinaryletter and #theculinaryletter, so I can see all your wonderful creations!
MORE Delicious Summer Treats…
- Strawberry Lychee Mocktails
- Banana Pecan Smoothie Bowl
- Homemade Orangeade
- Homemade Pecan Milk
- Cold Brew Kaffir Lime Lemon Iced Tea
Until next time, stay curious!
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