Recipe: Tomato Granita with Serrano Peppers

Recipe

Tomato Granita with Serrano Peppers

Serves 8

Serve this luscious tomato ice as an appetizer or between courses to freshen the palate.

3 pounds ripe red or golden tomatoes
1—2 serrano peppers
4 tablespoons finely minced fresh cilantro
juice of 1 lime
pinch of kosher salt
pinch of sugar
cilantro sprigs for garnish

Peel the tomatoes, remove the cores, cut in half, and squeeze out the seeds and excess juice. Press the tomatoes through a food mill into a large bowl. Remove the stem and seeds of the serrano peppers and mince them very finely. Add to the tomatoes along with the cilantro and lime juice. Stir and taste the mixture. Add a bit of salt or a bit of sugar to adjust the flavor if necessary. If the tomatoes are bland, add the salt. If they are too acidic, add a bit of sugar. Pour the liquid into two metal ice cube trays or into a 9- x 13-inch baking dish and place in the freezer for at least 5 hours, until the mixture is frozen solid. An hour before serving, remove from the freezer, break into chunks, place in a food processor and pulse quickly until the mixture is slushy. Place in individual serving dish and return to the freezer for up to 1 hour before serving. Garnish with a small sprig of fresh cilantro.

Variation:
Freeze the ice in a commercial ice-cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.