Watermelon granita with lime juice

Making a granita with fresh watermelon just requires adjusting the sugar correctly, as this fruit is almost entirely made of water. I used to scrape my tray in the freezer for three hours: the machine provides a consistent result effortlessly. You get an extremely thirst-quenching drink, perfect for sipping on hot days. The pairing with citrus acidity subtly enhances the natural sweetness of the red fruit.

Watermelon granita with lime juice

Recipe by Camille Roos

0.0 from 0 votes

Course: Slush / granitaCuisine: Difficulty: Easy

Servings

4

people

Prep

10

minutes

Freeze time

45

minutes

Total time

55

minutes

A very refreshing drink made with watermelon and lime, easy to make using the Slush program.

Ingredients

• 800 g watermelon flesh (seedless)

• 50 g granulated sugar (or cane sugar syrup)

• Juice of half a lime

Instructions

• Cut the watermelon flesh into pieces and blend finely with the sugar and lime juice. The sugar prevents the mixture from freezing into a hard block of ice.
• If your watermelon had seeds, quickly strain the juice through a fine sieve to avoid clogging the machine’s auger.
• Pour the resulting juice into the Ninja Slushi bowl, making sure to stay between the min and max marks.
• Start the Slush program and let it run until you get the typical crystalline consistency of a granita, ideal for eating with a spoon or a wide straw.

Watermelon and mint granita

Watermelon and mint granita : Blend a few fresh mint leaves with the watermelon to add a very thirst-quenching herbaceous touch.

The dosage of sugar with a fruit rich in water

Watermelon is one of my favorite summer fruits, but it is also one of the trickiest to work with in a granita machine. Since it is full of water, the risk is ending up with a hard block that jams the auger. The solution? Sugar is absolutely essential for the texture, as it acts as a natural antifreeze. Even if your fruit already seems very sweet to the taste, always count on about 50 to 80 grams of sugar for 800 grams of flesh. I prefer using liquid cane syrup which dissolves instantly, or I make sure to blend the granulated sugar for a long time. If you have already tried the strawberry granita in the Ninja Slushi, the principle is the same, but watermelon requires even more rigorous attention to this ratio.

Why filter your watermelon juice?

In a classic homemade granita that you scrape with a fork in the freezer, leaving a few small pieces isn’t a disaster. In the Ninja Slushi, it is a different story. The continuous stirring system hates solid elements. Always strain your juice through a sieve if you are using a standard watermelon with seeds. The seeds not only risk giving an unpleasant bitterness once blended, but above all, they can hinder the steady movement inside the bowl. By filtering the preparation, you ensure you have a perfectly smooth liquid, which guarantees that famous consistent set we are looking for. Besides, if you like to vary your non-alcoholic treats, you can apply this same filtering tip for a lemon granita in the Ninja Slushi, to remove any residual pulp.

Team plain watermelon or with a touch of mint?

Frequently asked questions

Why is my machine beeping with this recipe?

This is usually a sign that the liquid is freezing too hard and blocking the auger. Your preparation likely lacked sugar: add a splash of cane syrup to soften the texture.

Do I really need to remove all the seeds?

Yes, it is essential. Even when blended, small hard residues can interfere with the Slushi stirring system or add bitterness to your drink. A sieve is your best friend.

Can this recipe be turned into a cocktail?

Absolutely. If you add vodka or white rum, simply switch to the Frozen Cocktail program, as alcohol changes the freezing point of the mixture.

How long does the drink stay cold?

Once ready, the machine maintains the ideal texture as long as it stays on. If you turn it off, the granita will melt very quickly because of its high water content.