Cool and Refreshing Lemon-Mint Granita (Italian Ice)

If you grow mint in your garden, then this is a wonderful way to use this herb.  Mint is well known for its ability to soothe the digestive tract and help with stomach upset and irritable bowel syndrome.  It has been shown to have anti-fungal properties, helping to play a role in the treatment of asthma and many allergy conditions.  Mint is even thought to have some benefits as an anti-cancer food.  It contains a phytonutrient called perillyl alcohol, which has been shown in studies to prevent the formation of colon, skin, and lung cancers.  It is refreshing and tasty as well!

To make a good granita, you really do need to use a glass baking dish.  This is for two reasons:  first, you have to use a fork with some force to get the ice out of the pan, and you don’t want metal in your granita!  Secondly, a glass dish is essential if you want your granita to be “sparkly, like shards of glass”.  Nice for company or for the family!

Here’s the recipe, to serve 4.

1 cup water

¾ to 1 cup sugar, to taste

2 cups fresh mint leaves

½ to ¾ cup fresh lemon juice (about 5 lemons)

Zest of one lemon

In medium saucepan, add water, sugar, and mint leaves. Heat on medium heat and stir until sugar dissolves.  Heat for 4 minutes on low heat (you do not need to boil).  Remove from heat and allow to cool.

Remove and discard mint leaves.

Add lemon juice and zest to sugar syrup and stir. Pour into an 8”x 8” glass dish and cover with foil.  Place in freezer.  Stir the granita every hour or so for up to 6 hours until frozen.

Scoop out of dish with a fork by raking the ice into shards. Serve in glass dish and garnish with a mint leaf and/ or lemon slice.

Enjoy!

Blessings to You,

Nurse Anne