Eat & Drink
Originally published on Tuesday, 11th August 2009
Turkish Strawberry Granita
Serves 6
I love the humble jumble aspect of Turkish markets - no tidy boxes or prices - just mounds of fruit heaped onto newspapers and gold-toothed farmers ready to haggle. Turkey is a haven of fruit and vegetables. Much of the best produce at Borough Market comes from Turkey, and to visit a Turkish farmer's market in July is to see peaches, cherries, mulberries and apricots positively bursting with juice and scent.
When I saw a shy farmer standing over a table of the tiniest, ripest strawberries I've ever seen, I abandoned my bargaining skills and snatched them up and make this simple but refreshing granita. Topped with a squeeze of lemon juice and a few drops of rosewater - this is the perfect way to evade the summer heat and enjoy a classic Italian dessert done Turkish style.
Ingredients
500 grams super-ripe strawberries, rinsed and hulled
150 grams of sugar
650 mls water
lemon juice
lemon juice and rosewater for serving
Instructions
Place the strawberries in a pot with the sugar and water. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer and simmer for 30 minutes until the strawberries are very soft and falling apart. Taste and add more sugar if desired, then remove from the heat and leave the mixture to cool.
With a wooden spoon, crush the strawberries well to a pulp, keeping them in the cooking liquid. Add 2-3 tablespoons of lemon juice to taste and stir well. Pour the mixture into a wide, shallow plastic container and place in the freezer.
When the mixture begins to freeze (this will depend on your freezer and the how cool the strawberry mixture is when you place it in the freezer) take a fork and scrape it through the granita to fluff up the ice crystals as they form. Continue to do this every 20 minutes until the mixture has completely frozen.
Divide the granita between glasses or bowls and sprinkle each with a little lemon juice and rosewater. Serve immediately.
Jennifer Klinec from Eat Drink Talk has kindly agreed to provide Urban Junkies readers with mouthwatering recipes and foodtips.
To learn more, classes at Eat Drink Talk are held in Jennifer's beautiful loft in Clerkenwell, packed with information and useful tips, and you'll get to sample all of the delicious dishes prepared during class.
In collaboration with Eat Drink Talk