Bicolore Granita with Faux Ice Cream
Category: Desserts
Serves: 4
This refreshing Bicolore Granita with Faux Ice Cream combines the sweetness of watermelon and cantaloupe, topped with a decadent faux ice cream made from mascarpone and white chocolate. Itโs a delightful treat perfect for warm weather or when you want to impress guests with a sophisticated, yet simple dessert.
Ingredients
For the Bicolore Granita:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Watermelon (cut into pieces) | 400g |
| Cantaloupe melon (cut into pieces) | 400g |
| Sugar | 240g |
| Cornstarch (cornflour) | 1 teaspoon |
| Lemon juice | 60g |
| Water | 1 liter |
| Watermelon (cut into pieces) | 100g |
| Powdered sugar | 50g |
| Lemon juice | 30g |
For the Faux Ice Cream:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Mascarpone | 300g |
| White chocolate | 200g |
| Heavy cream (liquid) | 50g |
| Vanilla bean (split and scraped) | 1 |
| Salt | Pinch |
For the Coulis:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Watermelon (cut into pieces) | 100g |
| Cornstarch (cornflour) | 1 teaspoon |
| Lemon juice | 30g |
Instructions
Step 1: Preparing the Granita Syrup
Start by preparing the granita syrup. In a saucepan, combine the water and sugar. Stir gently and allow the mixture to heat until it just begins to boil, ensuring the sugar fully dissolves. Once dissolved, turn off the heat and set aside to cool slightly.
Step 2: Watermelon Base for Granita
While the syrup is cooling, place the chunks of watermelon into a blender. Add 30g of lemon juice and half of the cooled syrup. Blend until smooth. To ensure a smooth texture, strain the watermelon mixture through a fine sieve to remove any seeds. Set aside.
Step 3: Cantaloupe Base for Granita
Next, prepare the cantaloupe by placing the melon chunks into the blender along with the remaining lemon juice and the other half of the syrup. Blend until smooth. Unlike the watermelon mixture, you can skip the straining step for the cantaloupe. Transfer the mixture into a separate shallow container.
Step 4: Freezing the Granita
Place both containers in the freezer for approximately 1 hour. After an hour, remove the containers and use a fork to scrape the mixture into granita-like crystals. Return the containers to the freezer and leave them for another 4 hours to fully freeze.
Step 5: Preparing the Faux Ice Cream
While the granita is freezing, make the faux ice cream. Pour the heavy cream into a saucepan and add the seeds from half the vanilla bean along with a pinch of salt. Heat gently until the mixture just starts to simmer.
While the cream heats, chop the white chocolate into small pieces. Once the cream reaches a gentle simmer, remove it from the heat and stir in the chopped white chocolate, ensuring it melts completely to form a smooth sauce.
Once the chocolate is fully incorporated, add the mascarpone and mix until smooth. Cover the mixture with plastic wrap and set aside to cool.
Step 6: Making the Coulis
For the watermelon coulis, place the remaining watermelon chunks into a blender and purรฉe until smooth. Strain the mixture to remove any remaining pulp.
In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with the lemon juice to make a smooth paste. Pour this mixture into the watermelon purรฉe in a saucepan. Heat gently on medium heat, stirring constantly with a whisk until the sauce thickens into a syrup-like consistency. This should take just a few minutes. Once thickened, remove from heat and set aside.
Step 7: Assembling the Bicolore Granita with Faux Ice Cream
Once all components are prepared, itโs time to assemble the dessert. Use a fork to scrape the frozen granita, creating a fluffy, icy texture. Alternate spoonfuls of the watermelon granita and cantaloupe granita in each glass. Top with a dollop of the mascarpone-based faux ice cream.
Finally, drizzle the watermelon coulis over the granita and ice cream, adding an extra layer of flavor.
Notes:
- This dessert can be made ahead of time and stored in the freezer until ready to serve.
- The combination of the refreshing granita and the rich, creamy faux ice cream makes this an ideal treat for hot summer days or special occasions.
Enjoy your delicious and refreshing Bicolore Granita with Faux Ice Cream!
