Beef Free Watermelon Mint Granita

Total time4 hr 20 min

Prep time15 min

Cook time5 min

4.6

(21)

Bright, icy, and bursting with summer flavor, this watermelon granita is the kind of frozen dessert that feels almost too easy to be this impressive. Ripe watermelon gets blended smooth and strained into pure, jewel-red juice, then lifted with a fragrant mint-infused honey syrup and a bright squeeze of fresh lime. A pinch of salt ties everything together in a way that makes each spoonful taste more intensely of watermelon than the fruit itself. The magic is all in the freezing technique — patient scraping with a fork every 30 to 45 minutes builds those signature loose, feathery ice crystals that melt on your tongue in seconds. No special equipment, no churning, no fuss — just a baking dish, a fork, and a little patience. Serve it straight from the freezer in chilled glasses with a sprig of fresh mint and it looks like something from a restaurant patio. It's naturally free of any animal-based proteins, so every single ingredient here is exactly what it says it is — clean, simple, and completely plant-forward.

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Ingredients

6 servings

6 cups seedless watermelon, cut into 1-inch cubes (about ½ small watermelon)
3 tbsp honey
¼ cup water
¼ cup fresh mint leaves, loosely packed
2 tbsp fresh lime juice (from about 1 lime)
1 pinch salt

For serving

fresh mint sprigs, for serving (optional)

Instructions

1
Combine the honey and water in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the honey fully dissolves, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and add the mint leaves. Let steep for 5 minutes, then strain out and discard the mint leaves.
2
Working in batches if needed, blend the watermelon cubes in a blender until completely smooth, about 30 seconds.

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