Recipe: Cucumber chile granita

Cucumber chile granita

Total time: 20 minutes, plus freezing time

Servings: 4 to 6

2 pounds cucumber

1/3 cup lime juice

1/2 cup sugar

1 dried New Mexico chile pepper

2 dried chipotle peppers

1 teaspoon salt

1. Dice the cucumbers into 1-inch pieces; do not peel the skins. Place the pieces in a food processor and purée until smooth. Strain into a medium bowl through a fine mesh strainer, pushing the juice out with some of the pulp. You should have 21/2 cups of juice and pulp. Set aside.

2. To a small saucepan, add the lime juice and sugar. Crush the dried peppers in your hands and add to the saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is dissolved. Remove the syrup from the heat and cool slightly.

3. Strain the cooled syrup into the bowl with the cucumber juice and pulp, discarding the crushed peppers. Stir in the salt. This makes about 3 cups base.

4. Place the granita base in a large baking dish. Freeze, stirring every half-hour or so until the granita is frozen. To serve, shave the granita, raking the tines of a fork across the surface to break up the crystals. Serve immediately.

Each of 6 servings: 98 calories; 1 gram protein; 23 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams fiber; 1 gram fat; 0 saturated fat; 0 cholesterol; 19 grams sugar; 393 mg sodium.