granita Archives - Sugar et al

Mangoes were considered the ‘queen of fruits’ where I grew up. They still are. Everything about them screams summer. The vibrant sunny appearance or the sweet succulent refreshing interior. We owned a large orchard and summer time meant eating tonnes of fruit. The green unripe ones would be used for cooking and the ripe ones would make their way into every corner of the house. Boxes and baskets of fruit to be given away to friends and neighbours. The air subtly scented with smell of sweet mangoes. Meal times made special with platefuls of peeled, cut mangoes to finish off. The varieties endless and names so many that it was hard for one to remember.

Alas! A glut of mangoes today, is something that exists only in my memory or possibly in my dreams. In the part of the world where I live now mangoes can be expensive. And make a fleeting appearance. So, it’s case of ‘enjoy while it lasts!’ However, thanks to technology there are options. Like canned mangoes and mango juice. No substitute to the fresh ones in my opinion but okay when you crave for a taste of the glorious fruit.

If mangoes stand for summer, so does ice. While I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my share of ice creams and popsicles this summer, my freezer has been packed with trays of Granita. Using both fresh fruit and store bought juice. They are so fun to make with a bit of this and that. The best part is shaving the ice. You can do it over and over again. Melt, freeze, shave. It’s a great way of adding life into store bought juices. And one can enjoy them even when fruits are not in season.

The flavours of this Granita are sensational. You have to taste to know. Mint and lime add a burst of freshness in your mouth which balances the sweetness of the mangoes.

There are no hard and fast rules while making a Granita. One adds flavours of choice, sweetness as per taste. It can be served with fresh fruit, a fruit sauce or even yoghurt or cream. Store bought juices vary in sweetness, so the sugar may need adjustment.

Mango, Mint and Lime Granita
Serves 6-8

500 ml store bought mango juice
1/4 cup sugar (or as per taste)
1/4 cup fresh mint leaves
Juice of 2 limes

Place the juice and sugar in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir till sugar dissolves. Remove from heat. Cool slightly and add the mint leaves and lime juice. Pour into a shallow baking tray and cool to room temperature. Don’t discard the mint leaves. They get shredded and distributed during the process of shaving the Granita.

Carefully, transfer the tray into your freezer. Scrape at hourly intervals to form crystals until frozen (4-6 hours)

I couldn’t wait. Four more months! Just couldn’t!

To express my love for you..

Red hearts were never my thing. I’d rather go for wine.

Words fail me. You’ve been amazing so far.
So I got you wine and chocolate!

I read this somewhere ‘Like fine wine, hangovers get better with age’. Oh dear! And I recently turned a year older!

Happy ~~Valentine’s day~~ Weekend my friends! I really do love you:-)

White Chocolate Panna Cotta with Red Wine Granita
Serves 4

White Chocolate Panna Cotta
1 cup milk
1 cup heavy cream
2 tbsp castor sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence
50g white chocolate coarsely chopped
1 tbsp water
2 tsp powdered gelatine

Red Wine Granita (minimally adapted from Gourmet Traveller magazine)
150 ml red wine
150 ml water
1/3 cup castor sugar
1 cinnamon stick
2 star anise

For the White Chocolate Panna Cotta : Place the heavy cream, milk and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat until almost boiling. Remove from heat. Add white chocolate and set aside for 1 minute. Stir until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. Add the vanilla essence.

Place the 1 tbsp water in a small heatproof bowl. Sprinkle with the gelatine. Place the bowl in a small saucepan. Add enough boiling water to the saucepan to come three-quarters of the way up the side of the bowl. Use a fork to whisk the mixture until the gelatine dissolves. Alternately, add the gelatine to the water and set aside for 5 mins for the gelatine to bloom. Heat for 20 seconds in the microwave and stir to make it smooth.Add the gelatine mixture into the white chocolate mixture. Set aside to cool. Once it cools to room temperature, pour into serving glasses and refrigerate for a minimum 4 hours preferably overnight.

For the Red Wine Granita : Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat, bring to a gentle simmer. Stir and cook for 3 minutes, remove from heat and cool completely. Strain and discard solids, pour mixture into a 20cm square shallow tray and freeze, scraping with a fork at hourly intervals to form crystals, until frozen (4-6 hours).