Orange Basil Granita

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup packed fresh basil leaf, plus
• basil sprig, for garnishing
• 5 cups fresh orange juice (aboutr 12 large oranges)
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt (coarse)

Directions

1. 1

   In a small saucepan, bring sugar and 1 cup water to a simmer over medium low heat, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat. Stir in basil and let syrup stand for 15 minutes.

2. 2

   Stir together orange juice, vanilla and salt in a medium bowl. Pour basil syrup through a fine sieve into the orange juice mixture; discard basil.

3. 3

   Move mixture to a 9"x13" shallow nonreactive dish(glass is good). Chill in the freezer until edges are frozen, about 1 1/2 hours. Remove from freezer; scrape with a fork, pulling from the edges into center. Return to freezer. Repeat process every 30 minutes until the mix is the texture of shaved ice, about 4 hours. Spoon into serving bowls and garnish with basil sprigs. Enjoy!