Hibiscus Mint Granita Recipes

MINT JULEP GRANITA

Steps:

• Put 6 or 7 glasses in the refrigerator to chill.
• Cook 3 cups water, the mint and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is dissolved, about 2 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a medium bowl, pressing on the mint with the back of a spoon to extract all the juices. Let cool completely, or chill over an ice bath.
• Stir in the bourbon, and pour into a 3-quart (9-by-13-inch) glass or metal baking pan. Cover with plastic wrap, and freeze overnight.
• Scrape the surface of the ice with a fork in long, light strokes to create a snowy texture. Break up any remaining lumps. Freeze the granita again for at least 2 hours before serving. Fifteen minutes before you are ready to serve, put 6 to 7 glasses in the refrigerator to chill. Serve the granita in the glasses, garnished with fresh mint leaves.

HIBISCUS MINT TEA

Steps:

• Fill a stovetop kettle with water and bring to a boil. Remove from heat; add mint leaves, hibiscus petals, and lemon juice. Stir once or twice and cover. Steep for 3 to 5 minutes before serving either hot or iced.

MINT GRANITA

Steps:

• Bring water, mint, and sugar to a boil in a 1- to 2-quart saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved, then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 3 minutes. Add lemon juice and pour through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing hard on solids and discarding them, then cool.
• Freeze mixture in a 1 1/2- to 2-quart shallow nonreactive metal container, stirring and crushing lumps with a fork every 30 minutes, until evenly frozen, 2 to 3 hours. Scrape with a fork to lighten texture, crushing any lumps. Spoon into glasses or bowls.

HIBISCUS GRANITA

Steps:

• In a pot, combine the hibiscus flowers with water. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and cook for five more minutes. Turn off the stove, add the sugar and let cool. Afterward, you can the add lemon juice if you wish.
• Strain the hibiscus infusion and pour the liquid into a heat-proof dish or any container that can be placed directly into the freezer.
• Freeze for 45 minutes. Once you notice that the liquid is solidifying, scrape with a fork until it breaks into large crystals.
• Return the mixture to the freezer and after another 45 minutes has passed, repeat the same process twice.
• If you prepare the granita in a large dish, the preparation time will be much shorter, so be aware that the mixture does not completely freeze.
• To serve, spoon the granita into serving cups and decorate with mint leaves.
• Serve immediately to avoid melting.

HIBISCUS GRANITA

Steps:

• Pour the iced tea into ice cube trays and freeze overnight. (The recipe can be made up to this point and kept frozen up to 3 days in advance.)
• When ready to serve, turn the ice cubes into a food processor fitted with a metal blade or a powerful blender. Pulse the machine until the granita has the texture of crushed ice.

LEMON-BASIL GRANITA

Steps:

• Combine the sugar with 3 cups water in a medium saucepan. Warm the mixture over medium-high heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves completely. Remove from the heat, and cool to room temperature.
• Add the basil to the sugar syrup and muddle the leaves with the base of a wooden spoon. Let steep for 1 hour. Strain the mixture into a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish (discard the basil). Stir in the lemon juice and vodka, if using. Freeze until the mixture begins to set, about 2 hours. Scrape with a fork to form small crystals in the ice every 30 minutes to an hour until the mixture is fully frozen, about 1 hour more.
• Serve the granita in chilled glasses, garnished with the small basil leaves.

HEARTY TARTY HIBISCUS GRANITA

Steps:

• Heat water to a low boil. Add sugar and hibiscus flowers; stir until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Strain; discard hibiscus flowers. Add grapefruit juice and mint and mix well. Refrigerate until cold, about 4 hours.
• Pour chilled mixture into an ice cream maker and churn according to manufacturer's instructions. Add pomegranate seeds 5 minutes before the granita reaches the soft-serve stage.