Orange Granita With Balsamic And Mint Strawberries

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1-3/4 cup (420 ml) Florida orange juice, divided
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 3 cups sliced fresh strawberries
  • 3 tablespoons fresh mint cut into long, thin strips
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

Preparation

Orange Granita With Balsamic And Mint Strawberries

Place the sugar, 1/4 cup orange juice and black pepper (optional) in a small saucepan, and bring the mixture to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in remaining 1-1/2 cups orange juice and lemon juice. Pour the mixture into a 9×13-inch shallow pan and place in the freezer. Every few minutes, stir and scrape the granita with a spoon to create an icy texture. This procedure takes about 30 to 45 minutes depending on your freezer.

Combine sliced strawberries, mint and balsamic vinegar in a small bowl and let sit while granita freezes. Serve 2 ounces of granita topped with 3 ounces of strawberry mixture in individual dessert bowls.