Watermelon Granita with Cardamom Syrup

Watermelon Granita with Cardamom Syrup

Ingredients:
water, bottled, generic
sugars, granulated
watermelon, raw
lemon juice, raw
spices, cardamom

Directions:
In a saucepan, combine 1/2 cup of the water with 3/4 cup of the sugar and stir over moderate heat until dissolved, 2 minutes.
In a blender, working in batches, puree the watermelon with the sugar syrup and lemon juice until smooth.
Pour the mixture into a 9-by-13-inch baking pan and freeze for 30 minutes.
Using a fork, stir the granita; continue stirring every 30 minutes, until frozen and fluffy, about 3 hours.
Meanwhile, in a saucepan, combine the remaining 1/4 cup of water and 1/2 cup of sugar with the cardamom pods and bring to a boil.
Simmer over moderate heat until the sugar is dissolved, 2 minutes.
Remove from the heat and let stand for 5 minutes.
Strain the syrup and refrigerate.
Fluff the granita with a fork.
Scoop into bowls, drizzle with the cardamom syrup and serve immediately.