Watermelon and Vodka Granita with Lime and Ginger Syrup

Woo hoo! Fruit and booze slushy with a sweet sticky syrup? What’s not to love?! This is an absolute winner…

Ingredients

1 small watermelon, peeled and deseeded

130ml vodka

For the syrup

150g caster sugar

Zest and juice of 2 limes

40g fresh ginger, grated

A few fresh mint leaves, chopped

To prepare the watermelon slice off the ends. Rest on a flat end then slice off the skin in strips, turning the melon as you go. Cut vertically into slices, break them along the seed lines and remove the seeds.

Roughly chop the melon, put it into a blender or food processor with the vodka and whizz until smooth. Strain into a deep tray then freeze for an hour. Drag a fork through the granita to break up the ice crystals, then freeze for 45 minutes more. Drag the fork through again. Repeat for another 45 minutes or so until the ice has a rough, grainy texture.

Meanwhile dissolve the sugar in 80ml water in a pan on a low heat, stirring occasionally, until clear. Boil the syrup briskly, adding the zest and juice of the limes and grated ginger. Cook for about 5 minutes until just syrupy, then cool but don’t put in the fridge.