Watermelon Sno-Cones
Whether you call this a sno-cone or a granita depends on who’s eating it.
I don’t know about you, but my interest in a watermelon generally lasts until about halfway through it. Especially if it’s big, and especially if it’s woody and pulpy, in which case I vow to return it to the store, but never do.
In the past I’ve made watermelon lemonade, which is just fine. I always intend to make watermelon margaritas, but have yet to. This summer, however, I discovered that if you puree a watermelon (chunk it and blitz in the food processor – because it’s mostly water, it pulverizes effortlessly) and freeze it, you can scrape it with a fork to make pure-fruit watermelon sno-cones; known among fancy-food eaters as granitas.
Honestly, nothing could be easier than a granita. Freeze fruit puree, or fruit juice, scrape it with a fork so that you get a sort of crystalline snow, and voila. In midwinter, I have been known to leave half a latte in the car, then scrape it out and call it espresso granita.
I made a batch with cherries and watermelon, and a batch with a splash of prosecco. (This version would be granita, obviously, rather than sno-cone.) Not many recipes are so easily played with. Just remember this one rule: if it freezes, you can make a granita out of it.
But watermelon, straight up, makes a mighty fine sno-cone, without any need for day-glo syrup.
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August 31 2009 12:10 pm | freezable
pauline on 31 Aug 2009 at 1:19 pm #
What a good idea Julie. I too keep saying I am going to take fruit back when it is really bad and never do. Cantaloupe is a prime example when its pale and totally tasteless and cost a few dollars. They are super good right now though.
Aimee on 31 Aug 2009 at 5:22 pm #
Two words: Watermelon Sangria.
Amazing.
Amy Green - Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free on 31 Aug 2009 at 7:29 pm #
I love watermelon granita but I usually end up throwing it in the food processor so it’s nice and smooth. I like it better that way.
thepinkpeppercorn on 01 Sep 2009 at 4:13 am #
mmmm delicious! And so refreshing! I am so glad the weather is still nice to enjoy treats like this without frost on the ground.
Charmian Christie on 01 Sep 2009 at 4:42 am #
Oooh, wonderful. I stopped buying watermelon because we ended up tossing so much of it. Great solution.
Manon from Ontario on 01 Sep 2009 at 5:18 am #
Hey Julie!
I made the same this summer, but froze the watermelon puree in ice cube containers. The kids loved to pop them into their mouths.
Thanks for sharing
MFO
Mar Hein on 01 Sep 2009 at 9:17 am #
when you bring a watermelon home-always put it in a cooler with cold water (& an ice pack) for about a day-this makes any watermelon taste delicious & then there is no woody & pulpy taste. if you have it longer than a day uncut-just put in another frozen ice pack to keep the water cold. throw the water afterwards onto your lawn.
waste not, want not!!
Melanie on 01 Sep 2009 at 9:50 am #
Excellent. A solution for the huge watermelon on my counter! Can’t wait to surprise the kids!
Barb on 01 Sep 2009 at 1:18 pm #
I did this once with an abundance of rhubarb I had juiced. It was refreshing, too.
Jenn on 02 Sep 2009 at 6:00 pm #
Julie,
If you could help me with this, I would be super grateful!!
I need to learn to cook things that are healthy and quick to prepare and easy (and possibly can be frozen)@ Can you recommend a good cookbook with such recipes?