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close-up of a bowl of bright red watermelon granita

Watermelon Granita

This watermelon granita is a light, icy frozen dessert made with fresh watermelon, lime, sugar, and a pinch of salt. It’s refreshing, simple, and perfect for hot summer days.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Chilling time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Italian-inspired, Summer Dessert
Calories: 90
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 4 cups fresh watermelon cubed (seedless if possible)
  • ¼ cup sugar adjust to taste
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • Zest of 1 lime optional
  • Pinch of salt

Method
 

  1. lace watermelon chunks in a blender. Add sugar, lime juice, lime zest, and salt. Blend until smooth.
  2. Taste and adjust—add more lime juice or sugar if needed.
  3. Pour the mixture into a wide, shallow dish. Place in the freezer.
  4. After 45 minutes, scrape the icy edges toward the center with a fork.
  5. Continue scraping every 30–45 minutes for 3–4 hours until the mixture forms light, fluffy crystals.
  6. Scoop into bowls, garnish with lime zest or mint, and serve immediately.

Notes

  • The sweetness of your granita depends on the watermelon itself. Taste the mixture before freezing and adjust sugar as needed.
  • If left overnight in the freezer, let the granita sit at room temperature for 5–10 minutes, then scrape again to get fluffy crystals back.
  • For a fun twist, add fresh mint leaves to the blender before freezing.