Refreshing Mint Ice Cream & Salted Watermelon Granita Recipe
Cool summer days call for a delightful fresh mint ice cream with salted watermelon granita that brings unexpected flavor combinations to your dessert table.
Sweet watermelon mingles with delicate mint in this refreshing treat that surprises taste buds.
The contrasting textures of smooth, creamy ice cream and icy granita create a magical dessert experience.
Salt adds a sophisticated edge to the watermelon natural sweetness, making each spoonful complex and intriguing.
Homemade ice cream sounds intimidating, but this recipe breaks down every step with simplicity.
Chefs and home cooks alike will appreciate the balance of cool mint and juicy watermelon.
Let’s find out this delectable dessert and let your senses dance with every creamy, frosty bite.
Quick Recipe Overview
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time:
Total Time: 30 minutes
Calories: 309 kcal
Servings: 7
Ingredients to Make Fresh Mint Ice Cream with Salted Watermelon Granita
For Granita Base:
Watermelon: Sweet summer fruit that creates a refreshing icy texture with natural hydrating properties, best when ripe and deep red with no white streaks.
Sugar: Balances watermelon's tartness and helps create smooth crystalline structure, opt for fine granulated type for quicker dissolution.
Lemon: Brightens flavor profile and prevents fruit from browning, choose fresh citrus with vibrant green skin and heavy weight.
For Seasoning:
Flaked Sea Salt: Adds elegant crunch and enhances overall sweet-tangy flavor, select high-quality salt with delicate, light flakes that dissolve slowly on tongue.
Tools for Mint Ice Cream and Watermelon Granita Combo
Food processor: Essential for pureeing watermelon into smooth mixture.
Shallow freezer-proof dish: Perfect for freezing and forming granita.
Fork: Key tool for scraping and breaking ice crystals during granita preparation.
Saucepan: Crucial for heating milk, cream, and sugar for ice cream base.
Mixing bowl: Needed for whisking egg yolks and combining ingredients.
Strainer: Helps remove mint leaves and ensure smooth ice cream texture.
Ice cream maker: Necessary for churning and freezing mint ice cream.
Measuring cups: Used for accurate ingredient measurements.
Wooden spoon: Helpful for stirring mixtures during cooking process.
How to Assemble Mint Ice Cream with Watermelon Granita
Fruit Transformation Slice fresh watermelon and blend it into a silky smooth liquid with a hint of sweetness and citrus zing.
Freezing Magic Pour the watermelon nectar into a flat container and send it to the freezer for a chilly adventure.
Crystal Creation Every half hour, gently rake through the emerging icy mixture, breaking up developing crystals and creating a light, fluffy texture.
Salty Surprise Just before serving, sprinkle a delicate kiss of sea salt across the granita, awakening its vibrant flavor profile.
Mint Dream Infusion Gently warm milk and cream with fresh mint leaves, allowing the herbs to whisper their essence into the liquid.
Egg Yolk Alchemy Whisk golden yolks until they transform into a smooth, glossy canvas ready to embrace the mint-infused cream.
Temperature Dance Carefully blend hot cream into yolks, creating a harmonious custard that will become the base of our ice cream.
Churning Finale Chill the mixture, then spin it in an ice cream maker until it reaches a dreamy, cloud-like consistency.
Elegant Assembly Layer the sparkling granita and creamy mint ice cream in beautiful glasses, creating a dessert that looks as magical as it tastes.
Flavor Variations for Mint Ice Cream and Granita Combo
Learn how to intensify the mint flavor by using fresh, organic mint leaves at peak ripeness for a more vibrant taste profile.
Create a smoother granita by straining the watermelon puree through a fine-mesh sieve to remove any pulp or seeds before freezing.
Experiment with adding a splash of vodka or white rum to the granita mixture to prevent overly hard freezing and enhance the texture.
Try different finishing salts like flaky Maldon or pink Himalayan salt to add unique mineral notes and elevate the watermelon granita's complexity.
Swap heavy cream with coconut milk for a vegan-friendly mint ice cream that maintains a rich, creamy consistency while adding a subtle tropical undertone.
Ways to Serve Mint Ice Cream with Granita Together
Refreshing Summer Finale: Layer the icy watermelon granita and creamy mint ice cream in clear glass bowls for a stunning visual presentation that showcases the vibrant colors.
Cool Garnish Twist: Sprinkle fresh mint leaves and small watermelon cubes on top of the dessert to add a burst of color and enhance the natural flavors of both components.
Textural Delight Pairing: Serve alongside crisp shortbread cookies or thin almond wafers to provide a delightful crunch that complements the smooth ice cream and crystalline granita textures.
Temperature Contrast Magic: Create an elegant dessert experience by serving the granita and ice cream slightly chilled, allowing guests to appreciate the refreshing temperature difference between the two layers.
Storage Guide for Mint Ice Cream and Granita Layers
Smart Freezing Techniques: Create extra batches of granita and ice cream, storing in airtight containers for up to 2 weeks. Separate layers with parchment paper to prevent freezer burn and maintain texture.
Quick Flavor Boosters: Experiment by adding fresh mint sprigs or watermelon cubes as garnish just before serving. These toppings enhance visual appeal and introduce exciting textural contrasts.
Smart Storage Containers: Use glass containers with tight-fitting lids for best results. Glass prevents flavor absorption and maintains ingredient integrity better than plastic alternatives.
Temperature Control Tips: Keep granita and ice cream in the coldest part of your freezer, typically towards the back. Allow 10-15 minutes of gentle thawing before serving to achieve optimal scooping consistency and maximize flavor release.
Cool mint ice cream meets zesty salted watermelon granita in this refreshing summer dessert. Mediterranean flavors mingle with crisp textures, offering a delightful contrast that will satisfy you with each spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
¾ cup granulated sugar
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
4 large egg yolks
½ cup fresh mint leaves
¼ tsp salt
3 cups watermelon
⅓ cup sugar
1 lemon, juiced
1 tsp flaked sea salt
Instructions
Watermelon Granita Preparation: Pulverize ripe watermelon in a food processor with sugar and lemon juice until transforming into a vibrant, silky liquid.
Freezing Process: Pour the watermelon mixture into a shallow freezer-safe container, spreading evenly. Freeze for 30 minutes, then rake with a fork to create delicate ice crystals.
Granita Technique: Repeat fork-scraping every 30 minutes for 3-4 hours, developing a light, granular texture.
Mint Infusion: Gently heat milk, sugar, and cream in a saucepan until tiny bubbles form around the edges. Remove from heat and steep fresh mint leaves for 1-2 hours.
Custard Base: Whisk egg yolks until smooth. Gradually temper with warm mint-infused dairy mixture, stirring continuously to prevent curdling.
Custard Development: Return tempered mixture to saucepan, heating slowly until the custard thickens and coats the back of a spoon. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve.
Ice Cream Churning: Incorporate remaining cream, chill thoroughly, then churn in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer’s instructions.
Final Presentation: Sprinkle watermelon granita with sea salt and layer artfully with mint ice cream in elegant serving dishes.
Notes
Mint Infusion Technique: Steeping mint leaves in warm dairy allows maximum flavor extraction without bitterness, ensuring a pure, clean mint essence.
Egg Tempering Skill: Slowly incorporating hot liquid into egg yolks prevents scrambling, creating a smooth, silky custard base with professional culinary precision.
Granita Texture Mastery: Consistent fork-scraping every 30 minutes develops light, delicate ice crystals, transforming watermelon into a feathery, elegant frozen dessert.
Salt Enhancement Trick: A pinch of sea salt on watermelon granita dramatically amplifies natural sweetness, creating a sophisticated flavor complexity that elevates the entire dessert experience.
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, Boulder, CO
Degree: Diploma in Culinary Arts
Focus: Hands-on training in classic and modern culinary techniques, emphasizing sustainable cooking practices, kitchen professionalism, and real-world restaurant experience through externships.
Oregon State University
Degree: B.S. in Nutrition and Food Management
Focus: In-depth study of human nutrition, food safety, meal planning, and food-service operations, with a strong foundation in public health, dietetics, and community-based nutrition programs.
Sophie Reynolds is the recipe developer and culinary voice behind many of the approachable, flavor-focused creations at The Dream Café.
Sophie’s style leans into comfort food made simple: wholesome, satisfying meals anyone can make with confidence. Her passion lies in helping home cooks feel at ease in the kitchen while finding joy in the everyday act of cooking.
Sophie Reynolds
Co-Founder, Recipe Curator & Culinary Educator
Expertise
Education
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, Boulder, CO
Oregon State University
Sophie Reynolds is the recipe developer and culinary voice behind many of the approachable, flavor-focused creations at The Dream Café.
Sophie’s style leans into comfort food made simple: wholesome, satisfying meals anyone can make with confidence. Her passion lies in helping home cooks feel at ease in the kitchen while finding joy in the everyday act of cooking.