Watermelons are indigenous to the Western Cape. As this is where I live, it seemed the right choice to make my watermelon granita using fresh fruit. This means you will need a juicer or blender to do this yourself.
Take a look at this inspiring recipe for ♥ Watermelon Granita ♥ from Lavender and Lime #LavenderAndLime Share on X
Sicily is well known for its arancini and granita, neither of which we got to sample while we were there. We found one gelateria that had granita, but they looked awful – not even the coffee flavoured one enticed me. I decided that I would make my own and chose a watermelon granita as my flavour to experiment with. I have a juicer which would get more use if I had the space, but it was well worth getting down to juice the watermelon. You could purée your watermelon and then pass it through a sieve if you don’t have a juicer. I used the leftover watermelon to quench my thirst, and I used the granita to make a vodka cocktail for a hot afternoon cool me down drink.
Have you made your own granita, or tasted some and which flavour do you like best?

Watermelon Granita Recipe
Ingredients
Method
- Warm the orange juice in a sauce pan over a medium heat
- Add the fructose and stir until dissolved
- Remove from the heat and leave to cool
- Cut your watermelon into chunks, removing the peel, and juice
- Pass through a sieve to get your 800 grams
- Add the watermelon juice and lemon juice to the orange syrup
- Mix well and pour into a lidded container that can go into the freezer
- Remove every hour and whisk - do this until the ice crystals begin to form
- Leave to freeze completely before scraping off the granita with a fork, to serve
- Best used within the first 3 days of maming
Click on the links for conversions and notes.
What I blogged:
- one year ago – Rouille
I love the fact that we’re both having similar weather so your recipes always appeal! BTW I saw Mandela Long Walk To Freedom the other night. What an amazing film. I learned so much about S.A. too! 🙂
I actually want to read his book as I think I will sob my heart out during the movie! Thanks for the compliment Lorraine 🙂
Ooh that sounds good and looks so pretty too. When summer comes round in Spain I’ll be making it!
I look forward to your feedback then Tanya 🙂
I love watermelon on a hot summers day and bet I would love your granita even more.
Have as super day.
🙂 Mandy xo
It was the less messier way to enjoy one of my favourite fruits 🙂
This is such a refreshing treat!
Very much so 🙂
Sounds refreshing!
it was very refreshing!
I saw a watermelon granita recipe somewhere in a vegan dessert cookbook, involving chocolate as the “seeds.” What a lovely Sicilian dish, I can’t wait for sunshine to come out and Sicily is one of the destinations on my travel wish list.
Oh, what a clever idea for the seeds! I hope you get to Sicily as it is really beautiful once you get out of the bigger villages 🙂
I’ve never made granita but have always wanted to. Yours looks so refreshing and delicious. 🙂
It is extremely refreshing, especially as we are having a heat wave here 🙂
The ideal treat for the insanely hot weather today. Actually it might be too hot to make so I’ll just dive straight into the ice cold watermelon!
I was thinking about diving into a beer fridge! It is really hot 🙂
I love granita and sorbets but I have never made one with the addition of orange juice, how delicious… I will have to try it, I love watermelon in everything!
I love watermelon as well – ice cold with some lime juice is my favourite 🙂
Oh Tandy, how I LOVE watermelon granita! It’s been really really hot here too, I think you are the same, no?
Thankfully we have not had temperatures as hot as you have had, but our heat wave season is only starting!
This looks so refreshing Tandy. Another great recipe!
Thank you for the compliment Claire 🙂
Thank you Tandy! I’ll look forward to making this.
I am sure during your long hot summer it will be most refreshing 🙂
I love the combination of the watermelon and orange juice. Great recipe, Thanks!
My pleasure Cheri 🙂
I never heard fo Granita until my husband and I vacationed in Quebec City in October. So so good. I’d love to re-create that and yours looks amazingly delicious! 🙂
Thank you so much for the compliment Tina, I hope you enjoy making it 🙂
I cannot wait for watermelon to come back into season here—so trying this!
let me know how it works out for you Squishy 🙂
This sounds so delicious and refreshing, Tandy. What a pretty picture! 🙂
Thank you AD, it was very refreshing 🙂
I love lemon granita the best, especially in Italy! If only I didn’t live so far away.
Ah, another flavour for me to try 🙂
Lovely dessert,especially homemade version..
i just didn’t understand why granita and shorbets is pretty pricey in the restourant???
even it’s easy to made, but not that easy to photograph (in my tropical climates)
It was not easy to photograph here either as we are in the middle of a heat wave 🙂
I only ever tried apple granita & loved it too so I bet that I will love this version too,…looks great & refreshing! Yummm .
I think I should try the apple flavour 🙂
Nice. Saving this recipe for the summer!
Hope you enjoy it!
I have a bunch of frozen watermelon and I think this would be great to use it up for this!
I have never tried freezing watermelon just like it is – that must make a great treat 🙂
we’ve never tried a granita. this watermelon one is fantastic!
It is worth trying once I think 🙂
looks & who does not enjoy watermelon
A favourite fruit for most people I think 🙂