The Rhubarb-Granita
A Drink or Dessert?

An Italian rhubarb-granita makes a light ice-crystal-drink.

Originally associated with Italy, a granita can be served at any time of the day or night. It would not be considered strange to see a granita served at breakfast in Italy. Rhubarb is simply the flavoring, but what is a granita?

First of all, it can be classified as a dessert, but some refer to it as an italian-beverage because of the ice. It is made with water and a syrup. The syrup consists of any seasonal fruit you may prefer. The mixture is simply frozen.

Every so often, it is given a stir with a spatula to put the crystals that have formed on the top back into the frozen mixture.

The result is a wonderfully flavored ice-crystal-drink or dessert, however you prefer to categorize it.

A granita can be shaved if it is frozen to an even harder consistency. The difference between this and shaved ice though, is that with a granita, the flavoring is mixed right in with the ice. For shaved ice, the flavor is simply poured over the top. May seem trivial but....

A rhubarb-granita can have alcohol added to it if you like, but is fine without it too.

RHUBARB-GRANITA

Bring to a boil:

2 stalks of rhubarb chopped

3 cups of water

1 1/2 cups of white sugar

Gently boil until the rhubarb is soft. Make sure the sugar has completely dissolved.

Strain and add more water (at least another 2 cups).

Add 2 tblsp. of gin or vodka and mix well.

Pour into a metal container and freeze for 2 hours.

Give it a stir occasionally to put the ice crystal back into the mix.

Serve in a small bowl or a tall glass. Garnish with a cherry.






RHUBARB AND STRAWBERRY

1 cup sugar

2 cups chopped rhubarb

1/2 cup mashed strawberries

2 cups water

Bring to a good simmer over low heat.

When rhubarb is tender and the sugar has dissolved, remove
from heat and strain well.

Add 2 cups of water and place in a metal pan.

Freeze for at least 3 hours and stir occasionally.

Scoop into individual serving dishes.

Breakup with a fork to bring the ice crystals to the top.


Return to Rhubarb Beverage Recipe





Leave Rhubarb-Granita Recipes and Return to Home Page