Frozen fruit

/5

PRESENTATION

In Italy, frozen fruit has a refreshing twist with this simple, all-natural method for making a creamy treat. And look, instead of reaching for traditional gelato or classic sorbet, you can blend frozen chunks of juicy melon, sweet strawberries, or a mix of tropical mango and pineapple. The best part? This way, frozen fruit recipes don’t need any added sugar or dairy. Really, you get something lighter and fresher with that smooth, almost ice-cream-like feel. In places like Sicily and the south, people love experimenting with seasonal fruits, tossing together combos full of flavor and vitamins. So it's a quick fix for hot days when you're craving something cold, and you can switch it up with whatever you have on hand. Berries from the market? Yep. Leftover watermelon from yesterday’s picnic? Perfect. Everything works in these easy frozen fruit desserts.

Playing around with frozen fruit isn’t just about the taste—it’s about creating a snack or dessert that feels special without much effort. And honestly, many Italian families keep bags of fruit ready in the freezer, so when someone wants a cool treat, it’s as simple as blending it up. So easy. The texture lands somewhere between velvety sorbet and a frosty smoothie, making these healthy frozen fruit smoothies a fun surprise, especially for kids. Swapping out the fruit each time means you never get bored; try mixing strawberries and blackberries for a deep color and a tangy bite, or go with peaches and pineapple for a soft, tropical flavor. Some folks even make mini frozen fruit popsicles or serve the blend in bowls with a spoon for a quick snack. However you scoop it, this homemade Italian treat is a fresh way to cool off, and the endless combos make it a go-to for anyone who enjoys experimenting with quick frozen fruit snacks or needs a cool pick-me-up in the summer heat. Whether you're at home or by the beach, this treat is an easy way to bring a taste of Italy to your summer days. Really, really good stuff.

INGREDIENTS
Ingredients for 10.6 lbs of mixed fruit
Melon 2.6 lbs (1.2 kg)
Pineapple 4.4 lbs (2 kg)
Mango 3 ½ cups (600 g)
Strawberries 3 ¼ cups (500 g)
Blackberries 2 ½ cups (500 g)
Preparation

How to prepare Frozen fruit

To prepare the frozen fruit, start by cleaning the melon: cut off the ends to create a stable base, then slice it in half and remove the seeds inside with a spoon 1; cut each half into slices not too thick 2, remove the rind from each slice, and finally cut them into cubes about 0.8 inches thick 3.

Spread the cubes out on a tray, being careful not to overlap them 4, cover with plastic wrap, and transfer to the freezer: when the fruit has hardened, you can transfer it into a freezer bag for at least 12 hours. Now move on to cleaning the pineapple: remove the base and the crown by cutting them off with a knife 5, then cut the pineapple into 4 wedges, remove the woody core 6, and peel it;

cut each wedge in half lengthwise and then slice the pieces into chunks about 0.4 inches thick 7, then spread the pineapple on a tray 8, cover with plastic wrap, and transfer it to the freezer: when the pineapple has hardened, transfer it into a freezer bag for at least 12 hours. For more information on cleaning pineapple, you can check our cooking school "How to clean and cut the pineapple". To clean the mango, remove the skin with a vegetable peeler 9,

then make lengthwise cuts with the knife and separate the slices one at a time 10, until only the pit remains in your hand 11; cut each slice into cubes about 0.8 inches thick 12,

spread them evenly on a tray 13, cover with plastic wrap, and leave in the freezer for at least 12 hours. Now attend to the strawberries: wash and dry them, then remove the stems and cut them in half 14; at this point, you can transfer them onto a tray, without overlapping 15, and leave them in the freezer to freeze for at least 12 hours.

Finally, wash and gently dry the blackberries and transfer them onto a tray, keeping them whole 16, then place it in the freezer for at least 12 hours. When the fruit is frozen, you can blend it to create your refreshing dessert: pour the frozen melon into a blender or a mixer equipped with steel blades 17 and blend until creamy, then transfer to a bowl 18.

Similarly, pour the frozen pineapple into the blender 19 and blend until you achieve a creamy consistency 20; do the same with the mango 21,

with the strawberries 22, and with the frozen blackberries 23. Transfer your frozen fruit into separate bowls and serve immediately 24!

Storage

Frozen fruit, once blended, should be served immediately to enjoy it with the right consistency.

We do not recommend storing already blended frozen fruit in the freezer as it would harden too much. Non-blended frozen fruit can be stored in the freezer for about 3 months; in this case, once the 12 hours of freezing have passed, you can transfer the fruit into appropriate freezer bags for more convenient storage.

Tip

If you wish, when it's time to blend, you can loosen the frozen fruit with yogurt, milk, or water… like magic, you'll get a delicious smoothie or milkshake with an ice cream effect!

For the translation of some texts, artificial intelligence tools may have been used.