Fresh mint dessert with chocolate, fruit, cream, and tender herb garnish

Dessert

Minted Melon Granita

Ripe melon, lime, and fresh mint freeze into a flaky dessert that tastes clean rather than syrupy.

Ingredients

  • 5 cups cubed ripe cantaloupe or honeydew
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon lime zest
  • Pinch of sea salt
  • Extra mint sprigs, for serving

Method

  1. Simmer sugar and water until dissolved, then cool slightly.
  2. Blend melon, syrup, mint, lime juice, lime zest, and salt until smooth.
  3. Pour into a shallow metal pan and freeze for 45 minutes.
  4. Scrape with a fork, then freeze and scrape every 30 minutes until fluffy.
  5. Serve in chilled bowls with tiny mint sprigs.

Fresh Mint Tip

Use only tender mint leaves; woody stems can make the granita taste bitter after blending.