It’s August in Rome and that means that the city is quiet, as many of its inhabitants have packed up and headed to the sea. Among the most popular of vacation spots is the island of Sardinia, for its pristine beaches, crystal clear waters, and dramatic landscapes are the stuff of which vacations dreams are made.
We’re not headed off to Sardinia this year (darn!), but in celebration of the vacation season and that beautiful island, we decided to see what kind of delicious summer treat we could make using mirto, the traditional Sardinian liquor. Made from myrtle berries - which give the liquor a distinctive aromatic flavor - mirto is usually served ice-cold as a delicious after-dinner drink.
Because mirto is usually served in a frosty glass, we thought it best to make something icy and refreshing - and eventually we settled on a Mirto-Blueberry Granita. In case you want to follow suit, we include the recipe here:
Mirto-Blueberry Granita
3/4 of a cup of mirto
2 cups of blueberry juice
1/2 cup of water
juice of 1/2 of a lemon
Mix all liquid ingredients together, then pour into a plastic container approximately 13 x 9 inches, which was then placed in the freezer. As the mixture begins to freeze around the edges, stir, breaking up the ice. Then stir every 15 minutes until the mirto-blueberry mix turns into a deliciously addictive icy treat.
Scoop into glasses or bowls and eat with a spoon.
Liquor-infused granitas like this one make great aperitifs and even better desserts. We’ve been getting rave reviews as the combination of the aromatic mirto with the sweetness of the blueberry juice is an almost perfect combination. As well, the Mirto-Blueberry granita has a deep purple color that’s drop-dead beautiful.
So, if you’re not joining the jet-set in Sardinia this summer, find yourself some mirto (available at better liquor stores) and treat yourself to a taste of the island.
