Prickly Pear Granita

Directions

1. 1
   Place a large, flat metal dish in the freezer for two hours.
2. 2
   Put the sugar and water in a saucepan and bring to the boil.
3. 3
   Boil for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. 4
   Remove from the heat and allow to cool completely. Chill.
5. 5
   Peel the prickly pears, chop roughly and place in a blender.
6. 6
   Blend to a thick pulp.
7. 7
   Measure the pulp into a bowl.
8. 8
   Add the equivalent amount of cooled sugar syrup.
9. 9
   Stir in the lemon juice.
10. 10
    Pour the mixture into the frozen dish and place in the freezer.
11. 11
    After 30 minutes, scratch and scrape the mixture with a fork to form crystals.
12. 12
    Continue scraping and scratching every 20 minutes until you have a pile of fluffy, crystalline flakes.
13. 13
    Pile the granita into chilled martini glasses and serve immediately.