Ginger and Fennel Granita
Ginger and Fennel are a wonderful combination!
Especially when their flavors are paired together in a granita.
Frozen, these two flavors combine into something that is refreshing!
I have made this exact granita recipe many times. Most recently, it was showcased as an intermezzo course on a special tasting menu I prepared as a guest chef for Celebrity Cruises’ Silhouette.
( To see the post on this guest chef appearance click —> http://ow.ly/bAaDJ )
Many guests were apprehensive as to how this flavor combination was going to taste.
Some guests explained nicely to me that they really didn’t like ginger or fennel. How could this be? I kept asking myself how can someone say they don’t like this particular granita if they have never tried it?
The flavors of this granita are subtle, sweet, and refreshing. It does not have the overpowering fennel and ginger flavors these people were thinking of and didn’t like.
There were only about a small handful of guests that fell into this dislike category and somehow I convinced them to just try it when it came time for the intermezzo course. A tasting menu is an experience of flavors!
Needless to say, that when it came time to serve the granita I stayed back and waited until all were almost finished. Then I approached each and every guest that was a part of the “dislike” crowd and, one by one, all were pleasantly surprised by how truly delicious and refreshing the granita was.
The bottom line is that this granita is a winner!
I highly suggest giving this recipe a try this summer.
It’s refreshing and absolutely simple to make.
And, who knows you may even win over some in your crowd who dislike ginger and fennel, as well.
Ginger & Fennel Granita
This is one of the most basic and simple recipes for this granita. If followed exactly, the results are amazing!
Ingredients:
- Sugar – 1 cup
- Water – 3-4 cups water ( start with 3 cups and taste for sweetness. If it tastes too sweet, add more water, up to the 4 cups)
- Fennel seeds – 1 tablespoon
- Ginger – 1-inch piece
Procedure:
- Peel the ginger carefully and then crush it with the back of a knife.
- In a stainless steel pot combine all the ingredients and place on a medium flame.
- Bring the pot to a boil and simmer gently for 5 minutes.
- Stir from time to time with a kitchen spoon.
- After 5 minutes remove from heat and let cool completely.
- Once cool, pour the liquid through a fine mesh strainer into a tray with high sides. A square or rectangular tray with 2 -3 inch sides is perfect for this.
- Place in the freezer. Keeping the tray straight and even as you place it in.
- Freeze for about one hour.
- Then remove the tray from the freezer and scrape the mixture with a fork. Flake and break up the granita.
- Repeat this procedure after one more hour.
- At this stage, you can leave it in the freezer for an hour or two more until serving time.
Do not let it freeze completely!
granita technique
At service time break up the granita once again and serve immediately!