When my family went to Sicily a few years ago, we were delighted to discover a traditional breakfast of the region: granita served on brioche, or, if we wanted to, on brioche. Whipping cream.
Renato Poliafito wrote: Dolchi!In his delicious new cookbook about Italian sweets, he writes, “While the Sicilian sun is blazing… starting the day with a fresh bun of brioche and a savory granita, topped with a mound of ice, is more than just ideal; it’s necessary.”
Renato, owner of popular Brooklyn cafe Hello, GloriaHe also points out that granita, a semi-frozen “spoon dessert,” is incredibly easy to make. All you need is fruit, water, sugar, and subtle flavorings like herbs, and it doesn’t take hours of fiddling. If you’re looking for a way to make the most of seasonal fruit or save the last of your fruit, granita is the way to go. And it’s not just for breakfast. I made Renato’s Blackberry-Sage Granita (recipe below) over the weekend and topped it with ice cream for an after-dinner treat.
Dolchi! Filled with gorgeous, classic (and twisted classic) Italian and Italian-American baked goods, “Nona’s Shared Traditions from Bensonhurst to Bologna.” Next up is Italian ricotta cheesecake. Or Aperol Spritz Cake? Or Tartuffe, or Panettone Bread Pudding… Or, or, or, or…
Blackberry Sage Granita
at Dolchi! American Baking with an Italian Accent By Renato Poliapito
12 ounces (340 grams) blackberries
1/2 cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
1/4 cup (4 grams) fresh sage leaves
In a blender, combine blackberries, sugar, sage, and 1 1/2 cups (340 g) of water. Blend on high speed until smooth. Pour mixture through a fine mesh strainer over an 8×8-inch (20×20 cm) baking pan. Press down on the solids with a rubber spatula to remove any remaining liquid, then discard the solids.
Cover the surface of the mixture with plastic wrap and freeze for about 2 hours, until it becomes ice.
Using a fork, scrape into the loose mixture, then freeze for another 2 hours before scraping again. If you want to make granita with small ice cubes, repeat this process once more. Freeze until ready to serve.
That’s all! Thank you, Rentao.
Caramel Banana Taste Test with PS Ice Cream and Vanilla Ice Cream.
