Xanthan Gum Free Watermelon Mint Granita
Few frozen desserts are as refreshing or as effortlessly beautiful as a granita, and this watermelon version is pure summer in a glass. Ripe watermelon gets blended smooth, strained, and mixed with a fragrant mint-infused honey syrup and a bright squeeze of fresh lime before heading into the freezer. The real magic happens during the scraping process — every pass of the fork builds up those signature loose, feathery ice crystals that make granita so satisfying to eat. There are no stabilizers, thickeners, or gums anywhere in this recipe, which means people avoiding xanthan gum and similar additives can dig in without a second thought. The texture comes entirely from the freezing and scraping technique, proving you don't need anything artificial to get a stunning result. It's an impressive make-ahead treat that requires only a handful of real ingredients and a little patience between freezer checks.
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Learn more →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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