One sweaty New York City summer day I made it up three flights of steps to my railroad apartment, flung open the door and tumbled like a wilted flower into what felt like an incinerator. I knew I should eat something, even though the heat had squelched my appetite. But cook?! I feared I might faint first.
I suddenly remembered a recipe for Italian almond granitas I had discovered on The Food Section. Being a girl that needs her regular dose of protein, I was intrigued and had it bookmarked in the mental files.
But did I have the ingredients needed for my frosty protein filled dinner idea?
Yes!!! [And the choir sang Hot Child In The City. Well, not really.]
A few moments later I was done. Icy, creamy, a bit chewy with almond deliciousness! MMMmmm… so there you have it, my introduction to the almond granita and how it made it into my recipe rolodex.
Oh, and btw, evidently almond granitas are very popular as a summer breaky in Catania, Sicily. Another thing to thank the Italians for!
Here is my version:
| Almond Granita |
- 1/2 cup whole almonds (this equals about 16 grams of protein!)
- 3/4 cup almond milk
- 3 pitted dates
- 2 cups of ice
- Optional:Frontier Natural Products Co-Op brand Alcohol-Free Almond Flavor to taste (This brand is the real deal from bitter almond oil.) I’m an almond flavor freak so I add about 2 tsp.
- Put all of the above ingredients into a blender. Blend until ice cream shake consistency or add more or less liquid to reach your desired consistency. This does have a texture. I’ve made it in a regular blender and in my Vitamix with similar results.
- Mangia!
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This sounds absolutely delicious. Definitely going to try it soon. Would love to share your recipe with my followers if that’s alright.
Thanks for sharing such delicious, nutritious and of course gluten-free recipes.
Sounds really good! Just found your blog. I’m new to GF and this looks like a great place to start. Thanks so much!
You’re welcome, Shoshie…and welcome to the blog and the extended Celiac Chicks community! Glad you found us!;)
Rachel…Of course you can share it!!!
Keep up the good work.
Hi Kelly! Thank you for this nice easy to make cool protein Granita. Sounds wonderful. I have everything already in my kitchen to make some. Yummy!
Suzanne…you’re welcome! Let me know what you think after you try it! Cheers!
Sounds rather delicious, I am thinking of hazelnuts too. Think I may have to experiment!
Thanks!
Oooh Karen!!! Hazelnuts do sounds good! Except they give me a rash. I know, I’m a rash nerd! haha BUT, you got me thinking…I want to try it with pistachios!!! Let me know how your experiment turns out!
Absolutely marvelous ! Thank you so much.
Bob!!! You are SO welcome!
OH MY!!! this sounds fabulous!! I cannot wait to try it either — thanks for sharing!
Kate: Love your enthusiasm! Please let me know what you think after you try it. Happy to share! Enjoy!
Kelly: Your summer adventure to Spain sounds wonderful. I hope to get to Europe in the next couple of years too… THANKS so much for sharing this recipe. It looks delicious and I can’t wait to make it.
rmk_rosie: Make Europe happen, lady!!! ASAP!!!
(for those of you wondering what she is talking about…my newsletter had some news in it about my summer trip to Spain…more on that coming up here on the blog soon)
And be sure to come back here and tell us all what you thought after you tasted the granita! You can have it with some espresso and pretent you are in Italy!
What a yummy reminder of Italy…just the thing for the summer!
This sounds delicious. Can you suggest an alternative to the almond milk? I live outside the U.S., and such ingredients (at least guaranteed gluten-free ones) are hard to find.
Beth: Margie over at our Facebook page recommended making your own almond milk with “raw almond butter, honey and water.” I’m going to try it! It’s probably cheaper too!
https://www.facebook.com/CeliacChicks
If you aren’t allergic to dairy you could just use milk. I’ve used coconut milk before, but of course that adds its own flavor. Water might even work…since the almonds kinda make their own almond milk all blended up. Experiment and let us all know what worked for you.
It is great to have you posting again. I look forward to hearing all about Spain and plan on trying the new granita recipe.
can I just say YUM!? this looks soooo delicious esp. cause its dairy free too!!! thank YOU!
Welcome back! I’m not sure which will be more delicious– the photo you took or the granita, itself. Sadly, I have a deadly nut allergy, so am going to play around with my HOMEMADE FLAX SEED MILK (http://bubblechild.com/2011/07/25/homemade-flax-seed-milk/) and FLAX SEEDS, instead! Thanks for the inspiration. Bella!!
Bubblechild!!! I loooove the name of your blog…and I think I get it…that old TV movie The Boy In The Bubble reference? haha Anyhoo…very inventive with the flaxseed milk! and healthy too! Have you tried hemp milk? And can you eat coconut milk? It’s not really a nut, right? Oh…and thank you SO much for the photo compliment! It means sooo much to me. Seriously!
This sounds good but I don’t think I would try it. That 16 oz protein comes at a price, the almonds would have over 400 calories (a serving is considered only 23 almonds or 164 calories) and altogether it’s about a 700 calorie drink.
I also think you must have meant 16 gms of protein. 16 oz of protein would be about triple what most people need in a day.
Gloria: Good catch…I did mean grams! Fixed it , thank you!
Oh, and everyone is different. I need 20 grams of protein each meal or I’m not a happy celiac chick!
Oh wow..You’re in the city in This Heat? And you can still blog and share yummylicious recipes! Little wonder we love you to pieces! xoxLin
Linda…how sweet are you?!!! Thx
Luv you back!
I have been making almond milk for a while now. Something I like to do for a treat is to freeze some almond milk in ice cube trays. Then I put them in a freezer bag for easy use.
Some almond milk, cocoa powder, a bit of Stevia, sometimes a frozen banana and yummmm.
I think I will try it with this instead of the ice. I can hardly wait!
Being a gluten intolerant diabetic, I love new yummy things I can have. Thank you for taking the time to post your ideas!
I’m GF for a while now but haven’t gotten creative; this sounds a bit inspiring! How about with some vanilla soy milk?
I tend to have a sweet tooth so I altered the receipe a bit. Also I have to watch my cholesterol levels and calories. Almonds being a food that helps lower cholesterol I intend on drinking this daily, hopefully without putting on weight! Thanks for the receipe. Here is mine:
1/4 cup almonds
3 pitted dates
3/4 cup almond milk
1 cup of ice
Ooh! That sounds good too!
Oh my gosh this looks good! I am going to give it a try
Thanks for posting all the best stuff!
Love Aunt Jayne ♥
I have been using unsweetened vanilla almond milk and it is delicious. It is so hot down here in Florida so this is such a refreshing drink!
what almond milk do you use. i had been using blue diamond almond breeze origional unsweeted — but i think it has corn preservatives in it ???
I have discovered your blog through “Food Blogs.” Can I just go “oohhh” and “aahhh” on this little piece of heaven right here? It looks so delicious… couldn’t find the words to say.
OK, this looks so good. It reminds me of a cookies and cream milkshake the way it looks (but WAAAAYY healthier) I’m really excited to make one of these! Thanks for sharing this recipe. Cute site, I just found it online and am enjoying looking at all your posts!
Wow! This looks so good. Sometimes its really hard to find something quick and healthy for breakfast, but this shake seems quick and delish! Thanks for posting this recipe
Hi!!! I am being trialed on a wheat/gluten free diet for one month to see if this is my issue… I LOVE the idea of this shake (I love all nuts lol) and also a previous poster’s pistachio idea!!!! Do you have a pistachio smoothie recipe??
thank you