Sweet, with just a hint of earthy basil, this strawberry basil granita is the perfect cold treat for a hot summer day. Don’t forget the balsamic vinegar drizzle to take it over the top!
She reaches over and grabs a basil leaf before I can protest. She gives it a loving sniff and then nibbles directly on the leaves.
My mother-in-law calls basil her personal catnip. She just can’t resist it. And any time I cook with it, she’s there stealing a leaf or two.
Thank goodness basil loves to grow on our upper deck. We get so much direct sunlight, that it seems to multiply before summer has hardly started!
Which is great, because we love to use it on homemade pizza, herb infused butter, caprese salad, and fresh pesto. (of course)
But what do you do when there’s still too much basil?
Turn it into something sweet and fabulous of course!
What is a Granita?
Granitas are basically, Italian-style flavored ice. And they’re ridiculously easy to make! All you pretty much need is pulverized fruit, a pan, and a freezer. Oh, and spoon to give it a good scrape every now and then. Easy peasy.
Strawberry basil granita is bright red, which makes it perfect for all the patriotic holidays during hot summer months.
We enjoyed ours in blue swirled margarita glasses garnished with fun patriotic toothpicks, but you could just as easily spoon it into this adorable patriotic ice cream kit and call it done.
I originally found this recipe over at Kitchens are Monkey Business, but found the directions a bit hard to follow. Hopefully the rewrite below will be a bit easier for you.
Strawberry Basil Granita Recipe
Strawberry Basil Granita
Sweet, with just a hint of earthy basil, this strawberry basil granita is the perfect cold treat for a hot summer day. Don't forget the balsamic vinegar drizzle to take it over the top!
Ingredients
- ½ Cup Water
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 cup sliced strawberries
- 1 peeled and sliced kiwi
- Handful fresh basil leaves, rinsed and chopped
- Juice of 1 lemon
- ⅛ Cup balsamic vineagr
- Freshly cracked black pepper
- Pinch sea salt
Instructions
- Make a simple syrup using the water and sugar in a saucepan over medium high heat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and stir occasionally until sugar dissolves. Let cool completely.
- In a food processor or blender, combine strawberries, kiwi, basil, lemon juice and simple syrup. Process until thoroughly combined. Pour into a glass baking pan and place in freezer. Run a fork through the mixture every twenty or thirty minutes to combine for a total of about 2 hours.
- In the meantime, combine the balsamic vinegar with freshly cracked black pepper and sea salt. Stir.
- When ready to serve, spoon the granita into dishes and drizzle with balsamic vinegar.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1 gramsAmount Per Serving: Unsaturated Fat: 0g
Now it’s Your Turn…
Use up any of your leftover basil to make a batch of strawberry basil granita before the summer crops die down. It’s good for any hot day or as a special treat for Memorial Day and Independence Day.
Sharing with the parties listed at the bottom of this page!
Have you ever had a granita?
What’s your favorite cold treat for a summer day?
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Michaela says
yum! I can’t wait to try this!
Sara Syrett says
Oh, this looks so good! I am going to have a ton of basil in my garden this year and will definitely be making this! Basil and strawberries. my favorite combo! Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday. Visiting from http://www.twelveonmain.com! Have a great week!
Lisa @ Fun Money Mom says
This sounds so good! I’ve never paired strawberries & basil but I love the idea!
Jess says
What a neat recipe! YUMMY!!
I would love for you to share this with my Facebook Group for Recipes and Crafts: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pluckyrecipescraftstips/
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
Gwen says
I need this! Pinning! Thanks for something different. All great flavors!
Courtney says
I love strawberries, and they are so yummy with basil! This looks like a super refreshing treat!
Lisa says
Oh man….this is going to make a great after dinner treat! I think even my littles will give it a try! Anything with balsamic and basil in it is a huge hit in our household:). Thank you for sharing your recipe…can’t wait to try it this coming weekend!
Cheers,
Lisa ~ https://www.dreamsandcaffeine.com
Lisa // Cucicucicoo: Eco Sewing and Crafting says
Oh my gosh, that looks divine! I live in Italy, so we have lots of granita, but unfortunately it’s usually just crushed ice with syrup. This recipe looks absolutely delicious and can’t wait to try it! 🙂 Lisa
Teresa says
This sounds wonderful, perfect for hot summer days! Thank you for sharing at The Really Crafty Link Party. Pinned.
Miz Helen says
We will really enjoy your Strawberry Basil Granita, a great summertime treat! So glad you could join us on Full Plate Thursday and thanks so much for sharing with us. Hope you have a great week and a very Happy Mothers Day!
Miz Helen
Jann Olson says
Yum, yum! How fun and refreshing. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
FrugalHausfrau says
Oh so perfect for summer!! I wish I had some now. Thanks for sharing with us at Fiesta Friday!!
Mollie
Lynda Hardy says
This is RIGHT up my alley – can’t wait to try it! Thanks for sharing with Party in Your PJs!
Jenny says
Thanks for sharing this yummy recipe. I will be featuring it in my Memorial Day Picnic Recipes on Sunday at 6pm PST. Hope to see you at the party!
Colleen - Faith, HOpe, Love, & Luck says
I’m definitely sold on this recipe! Perfect for the hot summer months!!!
Emily says
This sounds perfect for an outdoor party or bbq! Thanks for sharing with Merry Monday; I’ll be featuring your granita recipe at our upcoming party. We’d love to have you join us again next week!
Danielle Siero says
This looks so good!! We have a basil plant that is thriving, and other than margarita pizza or caprese I needed more ideas. Thank you for sharing!