Healthy Strawberry Granita

Healthy strawberry granita is an easy, sweet, and refreshing dessert that will satisfy your sweet tooth without a lot of calories. Refined sugar and dairy free, this dessert uses fresh berries, lime juice, and just a touch of balsamic vinegar.

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My go-to healthy, light meal includes an Israeli Salad, a big bowl of Moroccan Spiced Lentil And Quinoa Soup, and a slice of crusty sourdough bread. 

For me, a meal without a sweet ending feels like something is missing. That little bit of sweetness feels like a treat and sends signals to my brain that the meal is over. 

This granita is a family favorite. It’s a great alternative to ice cream. It’s light and refreshing after a heavy meal, and perfect on a hot day.

What Is Granita?

Granita is a simple, shaved semi-frozen dessert, similar to Italian ice or sorbet, that originated in Sicily, Italy. It is made from water, sugar, and various flavorings like fresh fruit, mint, or coffee.

Each region of Italy has its own signature granita flavor and freezing method. For example, on the West coast, they prefer citrus granitas that are chunky in texture. The east coast prefers lemon, coffee, and even almond flavors with a texture that’s almost as smooth as sorbet.

In Sicily, granita is often served for breakfast topped with whipped cream along with a brioche bun. There’s nothing wrong with that!

Ingredients Needed

• Strawberries – fresh or frozen. If using fresh berries, be sure to get very ripe berries for the best flavor.
• Water
• Sweetener – I like using Truvia because it doesn’t have an aftertaste, but use whatever you have on hand. 
• Lime juice – you could also use lemon juice. This adds a bit of acidity, balancing the sweetness.
• Balsamic vinegar – this is optional, but really brings out the flavor and natural sweetness of the berries. Trust me, you won’t notice a vinegary flavor.
• Pinch of salt – literally a tiny pinch of salt to balance the recipe and highlight the sweetness of the berries.

Steps To Make This Recipe

This is one of those recipes that almost doesn’t need a list of ingredients or instructions. Ya gotta love a recipe like that!

1. Dissolve the sweetener in the water.
2. Add all of the ingredients to a blender and process until smooth.
3. Pour the mixture into a large, shallow pan and place in the freezer.
4. After 45 minutes, use a fork to pull the frozen edges into the center. Place back into the freezer.
5. Scrape the icy mixture every hour until completely frozen.
6. Portion into martini glasses or small bowls and enjoy immediately.

Variations To The Recipe

• Toss in blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries to vary the flavor.
• Replace some of the water with orange juice, apple juice, or even wine.
• Muddle a few mint leaves in the water to give a hint of minty freshness.
• For a very sophisticated granita, replace half of the water with a dry red wine, increase the balsamic vinegar to 1 teaspoon, and add ½ teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper.

More Frozen Dessert Recipes

• Sweet Georgia Peach Ice Cream
• Decadent No-Churn Chocolate Ice Cream
• Key Lime Pie Popsicles
• Strawberry Cheesecake Paletas
• Homemade Orange Creamsicles
• Fresh Watermelon Sorbet
• Caramel Macchiato Gelato
• Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bars
• Creamy Matcha Lychee Ice Cream

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