49 comments

Salted-Herbed Watermelon Granita

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This is my second granita of the summer and I adored it just as much as the first. Well, in actuality, this is the second granita I made and didn’t devour before taking pictures! And I’m dedicating this granita to my Nana. When I was younger, Nana ate watermelon with salt on it and I thought it was the strangest thing in the world. In adulthood, now I realize that tons of people eat their watermelon with salt. So, in thinking about flavor combinations, I thought a salted-watermelon granita would be awesome (I also thought that a salted-watermelon margarita would be awesome! lol :)). I had some fresh herbs on hand, so I put that in the mix and viola! — another awesome granita–sweet, salty, and fragrant! If you’re looking for a really easy way to use up the season’s juiciest and sweetest watermelon, I definitely recommend this granita!

And in other news, I wanted to tell you all about a relatively new blog on healthy eating: Know Food Now. On this blog, Marsha, features recipes on healthy eating from around the food blogging world, as well as information about seasonal food, making sustainable changes to one’s eating habits, and food politics. Check it out and tell her Tiff sent ya :).

Finally,  this weekend, I’m heading back to the new city I’m moving to next month to try to secure housing (once again). Wish me luck! And now… onto catching up on my food blog readin’…

Salted-Herbed Watermelon Granita (Printable Recipe)

Ingredients:

1 cup water

1/4 cup sugar

3-4 basil leaves, plus extra basil for garnish (sugar coated basil leaves)

1/4 of a whole watermelon (~ 1.25 pounds)

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon fresh basil

1/4 teaspoon fresh thyme

1/4 teaspoon fresh oregano

sugar for sprinkling

Method:

*Make sugar-coated basil leaves: wash basil leaves. Sprinkle with sugar. Place on plate and freeze.


*Make herbed syrup: Bring water, basil leaves, and sugar to a boil. Reduce to 1/2 cup of liquid. Let cool.

*Blend watermelon and herbed syrup until smooth. Add to pyrex dish. Freeze until solid. Scrape mixture with fork until completely scraped. Freeze at least two hours. Scrape again. Freeze at least two hours. Scrape.

*Mix salt and fresh herbs. Serve granita with sprinkled herb salt and sugar-coated basil leaves. Stay cool!


Written by

Tiffany M. Griffin is the woman behind Como Water, Washington DC’s premiere veg-centric cuisine consulting company. Through cooking classes, demonstrations, catering, and consultations, Como Water gives people the opportunity to learn how to prepare veg-centric cuisine that boasts maximum flavor, with minimal effort. Tiffany is quickly becoming a go-to expert on the future of veg-centric cuisine, and is a regular contributor to Como Water, the blog, as well as to vegetarian and vegan sites across the Internet. For over a decade, this self-taught, entrepreneurial expert has developed a set of tried and true techniques for making simple, delicious, and sometimes decadent veg-centric dishes. Featured on the Steve Harvey Show and other leading media outlets, Tiffany was born and raised in Springfield, MA. She then earned Bachelors degrees in Psychology and Communications from Boston College and a PhD in Social Psychology from the University of Michigan. She now resides in Washington DC, where she has worked in the US Senate and at a federal agency on issues around health, food, nutrition, and international food aid/development, and of course, as the owner of Como Water. Tiffany gets culinary inspiration from the food she grew up eating, and from her travels throughout Latin America, the Caribbean, Western Europe, and Sub-Saharan Africa. She is dedicated to sharing her wealth of knowledge on veg-centric cuisine with others and to help others live by her mantra—love life, live long, and eat veg-centric cuisine!

Comments

  1. Laura @ Sprint2theTable

    i LOVE this! i will snack on pieces of watermelon with salt sprinkled on them post-workout. turning it into a granita is a much cooler idea!

    July 7, 2011
  2. Kelly

    Wow this looks so delicious! So colorful and refreshing, perfect for the summer 🙂

    July 7, 2011
  3. Eftychia

    Wow, this is delicious! You have great summer ideas! Thanks for sharing them with us!

    July 7, 2011
  4. briarrose

    Keep the ganitas coming. 🙂 This looks so very good.

    July 7, 2011
  5. Parsley Sage

    Good luck house hunting! Gotta give you major points for this granita. Love that you salted it. Watermelon is best eaten with a dash of salt 🙂

    July 7, 2011
  6. Lindsey@Lindselicious

    This looks super delish and refreshing! Love the sugar coated basil leaves too!

    July 7, 2011
  7. Anne

    LOVE THIS Tiffany! You know…I love salt on most all of my ice cream, so why not granita? And I love the addition of the fresh herbs, too! Good luck this weekend! My fingers are crossed for you! : )

    July 7, 2011
  8. Tina@flourtrader

    How refreshing this is-salt and watermelon in a frozen treat. Genius that you came up with the idea. Yum.
    Good luck on finding a place to live this weekend!

    July 7, 2011
  9. Kate@Diethood.com

    I hate watermelon, but I have to admit, this looks/sounds so good!!

    July 7, 2011
  10. Sandra's Easy Cooking

    mmmm..now this looks refreshing!!!! I love those colors and flavor is fantastic!!!

    July 7, 2011
  11. Jackie

    My Goodness!!! That looks fantastic! Wait a minute, I HAVE all of those ingredients, I’m gonna give that a try. =)

    July 7, 2011
  12. kitchenarian

    Confession: I eat my watermelon with salt. It’s something I learned from my mom. So you know I love this! I also put salt and pepper on my cantaloupe, but don’t tell anyone. 🙂

    July 7, 2011
  13. Angie@Angiesrecipes

    Looks so delightful! Love sugared basil in watermelon granita.

    July 8, 2011
  14. Tori @ The Shiksa in the Kitchen

    Salted watermelon is one of my favorite treats! This granita looks awesome. I might try it with fresh mint. Fabulous! 🙂

    July 8, 2011
  15. Nami @ Just One Cookbook

    While growing up my grandparents sprinkle some salt to eat watermelon too, but I never bothered to add “extra” thing that’s not necessary when watermelon is already sweet. But it supposed to bring the sweetness, right? I forgot. Anyway… your #2 granita looks delicous! It’s interesting how you freeze basil with sugar like that. Good luck with your house hunting! Sending you positive energy!!!! Feel it? =D

    July 8, 2011
  16. Jill Colonna

    Who would have thought actually sprinkling salt on it? I suppose I’ve had salty cheese before with it but never thought about it like this with herbs. Fantastic idea and so creative, Tiffany. Keeping fingers crossed that the right dream place turns up soon.

    July 8, 2011
  17. Hester Casey - Alchemy

    Salty and Sweet and Cold and Delicious! Perfect. I am also loving the sound of the marguerita.

    July 8, 2011
  18. Hester aka The Chef Doc

    Yum, Tiffany! I always ate salt with my watermelon when I was younger. It’s just how I was “taught”? Lol. However, I don’t do so anymore these days but you’ve sure brought back a lot of memories 🙂 Good luck on the house hunt!

    July 8, 2011
  19. torviewtoronto

    wonderful flavours looks wonderfully delicious

    July 8, 2011
  20. Adora's Box

    Is this fantastic or what? I am part of the tons of people who eat watermelons with salt. As kids we used to eat frozen watermelon to cool us down in summer. I bet the herb syrup gives a surprising punch.

    July 8, 2011
  21. Letizia

    WOW!!!! This must have been deliciously refreshing and devilishly tasty!!!

    July 8, 2011
  22. Treat and Trick

    Great combo and looks amazing!

    July 8, 2011
  23. Isabelle

    One of my favourite summer drinks is a watermelon margarita with a salted rim, so this sounds like it’s right up my alley… especially since, being frozen, it’s bound to be extra refreshing!
    I’ve always avoided adding salt to frozen treats because it keeps the mixture from freezing properly, but for some strange reason, I never thought to sprinkle it on top like you did here… duh me! Will totally have to try this out next time I find a nice watermelon.

    July 8, 2011
  24. Island Vittles

    I love the sugared basil — so beautiful. I’m going to go get a watermelon and sprinkle some salt on it right now — I’ve always eaten canteloupe with salt on it, but never watermelon. Funny that! theresa

    July 8, 2011
  25. Magic of Spice

    That is gorgeous! My grandfather always salted his melons too, I of course followed suit but I am allergic so I have to avoid these fresh summer beauties (strawberries too)…but I love to make melon treats for my kids 🙂
    Good luck with your housing situation and I will stop over to check out the site you recommended 🙂
    I hope you have a great weekend Tiffany…

    July 8, 2011
  26. Manu

    Buzzed! Amazing… I have never thought of eating watermelon with salt! I must try that, it sounds great! This would also make a great sorbet in between dishes in a meal! 🙂

    July 8, 2011
  27. Cassie @ bake your day

    I am in love, this is so creative! I am trying this very soon!

    July 8, 2011
  28. Amy

    This sounds amazing! I love the idea of a watermelon granita, but topping it off with salt to offset the sweetness is genious!

    July 8, 2011
  29. Marsha Hallet

    Thanks for the link! My grandmother salted her watermelon and her cantaloupe. I am scraping your granita mixture now and staying cool. Love the sugar coated basil.

    July 8, 2011
  30. Ann

    Absolutely incredible! What a unique and delicious flavor combination. Congratulations on making Food buzz Top 9

    July 9, 2011
  31. Melissa@EyesBigger

    oh this sounds so good and refreshing for summer! I just made a watermelon salad with basil and mint in the dressing and it was amazing so I think this would be great.

    July 9, 2011
  32. Natalie

    Hi Tiff, you are the Top 9 granita queen!! The salt sounds amazing and so does the margarita! I’m definitely making a granita today, I’m going to add vodka and make it a watermelon martini granita, can’t wait! I am sending out loads postive thoughts to you with regard to your housing. The right place will find you, good luck! 😀

    July 9, 2011
  33. ping

    Yup, definitely the granita queen 😀 The frozen sugar is a fantastic idea … makes it so sparkley. Congrats on getting top 9!

    July 9, 2011
  34. The Mistress of Spices

    I’ve never actually seen or heard of anyone putting salt on their watermelon, but why not! This sounds delicious and refreshing…perfect for summer. Maybe I’ll try these flavors in a sorbet! Congrats on the top 9, and good luck with your housing search!

    July 9, 2011
  35. Chef Dennis

    we always ate watermelon with salt, I still do and my wife thinks I’m crazy, but its just not as good without a little salt! I bet that granita is pure heaven!

    July 9, 2011
  36. Sommer@ASpicyPerspective

    So refreshing! Think we’ll be making this today.

    July 9, 2011
  37. Mama's gotta Bake

    That looks so refreshing. Would love to make this for my next backyard gathering!

    July 9, 2011
  38. Sandra

    We used to eat salt with our watermelon too. So happy to see you in the Top 9 again and good luck with finding your home sweet home!!

    July 9, 2011
  39. Nancy/SpicieFoodie

    Wow Tiffany your granita looks delish! Granita is such a great summer treat isn’t it?
    Good luck with your house hunting, keeping my fingers crossed for you:)

    July 10, 2011
  40. kankana

    I am eating a lot of watermelon these days.. and we like to sprinkle some salt and fresh black pepper on it.. it add a nice taste to the sweet watermelon .

    July 10, 2011
  41. Terris@Freeeatsfood

    I knew I was excited to see the second granita! You are definitely on a roll and the herbs used here must really make the watermelon pop. Yum!

    July 11, 2011
  42. Tiffany

    Thanks for the comments everyone!!! Happy Monday!

    July 11, 2011
  43. Irena

    Wow…looks wonderful…I never had this before….good luck with housing thing:)I will for sure check out new healthy blog:)

    July 11, 2011
  44. Terra

    See this is why I adore you, I love love this recipe!!! I always found it interesting when my Grandma would put salt on her canteloupe, but it must have been delicious:-) I love herbs with fruit, just gorgeous! I definitely need to try this lovely recipe:-)
    Hugs, Terra

    July 12, 2011
  45. Lindsay @ Rosemarried

    This looks so summery & delicious. I love the combo of fruit & herbs (specifically watermelon and basil). Bravo, this looks fab!

    July 17, 2011
  46. Lin Ann

    Wow! Love it and I definitely must try it. I made a blueberry granita recently (posting soon) and the recipe had salt in it, but I omitted it. Now I’m wondering how it would have changed the flavor. Thanks for this – my daughter will love this recipe

    July 24, 2011
  47. Beth Michelle

    LOVE this. Granita is the best in the summer and I love how you added salt to this. Perfect.

    August 20, 2011
  48. Jenn and Seth (@HomeSkilletCook)

    wow, this is a fantastic recipe! i need to try this!

    June 19, 2012
  49. Fatima (@Thebakinglounge)

    I love this! So, so good cannot wait to try it and serve to friends 🙂

    June 21, 2012