FOOD AND TRAVEL

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Saffron Pistachio Kulfi - An Indian Ice Cream

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Most of my memories of India are from the times we went on vacation to India from Kuwait. As a kid though, the hot dry climate of Rajasthan wouldn't really get me excited. Not that Kuwait has any better climate, but we have been spoiled with central air conditioned environment all day long whereas the small town I come from, doesn't even have good supply of electricity. 

I would ask mom why we didn't go to other country to vacation. Why not Europe? Why not United states? She would answer with her general 'Because India is our home country - place where we really belong, we go to visit our people, our family'. Of course I didn't buy it and looking at how unenthusiastic I was, mom would start mentioning one thing she knew would excite me. She mentioned street food like  kulfi among others that I would get to gorge on in India. The scenes of standing at the street stalls, licking the cold and creamy kulfi that the vendor would pull out from the earthen pots filled with ice and salt to freeze the kulfi, would immediately cheer me up.

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 Needless to say, I spend most of the time eating food off the street, hiding the fact from my dad who would be worried about me getting sick. And sick I got, but that didn't alter my enthusiasmNow that I have grown up (at least I think so), I have learned how much better the kulfi tastes when made at home. But yet the thought of eating the kulfi at the street gets me as excited as I was when 10.  What is it about street food?

Kulfi is an Indian answer to ice cream. Unlike the western ice cream kulfi is a milk based ice cream which is  not churned  but is more creamy than usual fare. Traditionally the milk is reduced to half by heating the milk over a long period of time which gives it a nutty and distinct flavor. The traditional flavors are of saffron, pistachio and almonds but these days you will find fruit kulfi's as well. 


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For a long time I have been making it by the traditional method, but while recently working on a project for recipe development I was looking to simplify the process. I must say I was pretty impressed, it almost tastes better than the traditional or was it the fact is was so much easier made me think so? It's delicious is all I can say.

I have added a print friendly icon at the bottom of the post for those who would like to print the recipe. Hope that helps.

Saffron Pistachio Kulfi - Kesar Pista Kulfi
Serves 3-4 


Ingredients


1 cup heavy cream *
¾ cup condensed milk
1 can (170g) evaporated milk
¼ cup warm milk
½ tsp saffron threads
¼ cup chopped pistachios
1 tbsp ground basmati rice**
1 tbsp almond powder

Note

*Instead of heavy cream and evaporated milk, if you want to go by the traditional way, start with 3 1/2 cups of milk and reduce it to 1 1/2 cups of milk and then continue with the recipe


** Kulfi is not only creamy but slightly chewy. Ground rice helps to thicken the mixture as well as gives  a beautiful chewy texture when frozen.

Method

Mix the warm milk and saffron and keep aside.

Heat the evaporated milk until it comes to a soft boil and add the cream.

Once the cream comes to a soft boil, add the warm milk, condensed milk, rice powder and almond powder.

Whisk so that no lumps remain. Heat the mixture for about 10 minutes until it thickens to the consistency of heavy cream.

Transfer to stainless steel molds or popsicle molds.

Freeze for upto 6 hours or till frozen.

To unmold keep it out of the fridge for 5 minutes and pull it out with a stick.

Garnish with chopped pistachio. 
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51 comments

  1. So lovely! I had kulfi once at a fair and LOVED it. Gorgeous clicks, dear!

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  2. That. Is. Gorgeous. I. Need. To. Sit. Down.

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  3. @Therese Just updated the post to make it clear :-)

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  4. Oh my, this looks sinful! I so love milk based kulfis to the fruity pops. Can't wait to try -- my kids are gonna love it!

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  5. Your photos of this are delicious in themselves, Kulsum. The dusting of pistachio and the pale yellow color of the kulfi is so appealing. I'm always happy to find a frozen treat that doesn't require an ice cream maker, thanks!

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  6. Such a beautiful dessert! I love kulfi!!

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  7. how interesting it is to see ground rice as one of the ingredients! Beautiful pics as always!

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  8. oooh how gorgeous! used to sneak away for badam kulfi every chance I got! Brings back memories ... and major cravings!

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  9. Yum! Have you heard of people putting bread in their kulfi recipes?

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  10. Lovely clicks! I remember waiting for the kulfiwala around lunch every summer. Me and my siblings got 2 each and one smallest one for our dog. some great memories. one of the things u cant live withou, so i recreated a vegan version. no milk! and u cant tell the difference! Richa @ http://hobbyandmore.blogspot.com/2011/07/kulfi-cashew-almond-oats-ice-cream.html

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  11. Lovely clicks... wow i am just drooling.

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  12. I love streetfood... We do have it here but there is nowhere the streetfood is better then in Asia. India tends to be a little tricky as we do get sick too, but still... I can see how that tempted you! I love the look of this kulfi, which I have never tried before!

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  13. Sinfully good! you have done the very traditional way. Did not know it had rice powder in it. Spectacular pics as always.

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  14. Beautiful pictures and writing :) Loved reading about your childhood.

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  15. I love that chewy texture, it kind of reminds my Sicilian gelato. I was the same way when i was young, I could never understand why we would have to go back to France and now as an adult it's what I look forward to the most every year!

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  16. I could lick the screen you know. It would be wrong, very wrong, but I could so totally do it!! :-)

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  17. Lovely pictures!I simply love street food,in fact my previous blog post was about street food and chaat!:-)
    "Once the cream comes to a soft boil, add the milk" By milk,do you mean to say both warm milk and condensed milk?Thanks.

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  18. Oh my,yummy,you have a whole section on Bohri Cuisine!I am bookmarking your website right away,tweeting it as well!:D

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  19. Hey Kulsum, this looks like a super authentic Kulfi. Love your story too. Yum!!

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  20. Oh such beautiful photos...I get inspired whenever I visit your blog (and try to recreate stuff and it can never look as awesome!)

    Totally know what you mean about Indian street food. My policy: since you're gonna get sick ANYWAY (no matter how careful you are), you may as well as be naughty about it and then fall sick. At least the tummy cramps will be worth it then.

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  21. I am so doing this. Ok, now I know how to motivate my kids :)

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  22. Really cute kulfi sticks, love the dusting of pistachios, very appetizing pics

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  23. Beautiful clicks and awesome is an understatement for these clicks...and the icecream looks delicious

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  24. Very few Indian places in Singapore do justice to the kulfi. Now I have the comfort of knowing how to make my own should I want the best quality. Thank you so much Kulsum, you're a gem!

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  25. Thank you everyone. I'm glad you like it - I mean really its so easy and delicious you won't regret making it :-)

    @fahad Khan I updated the post to make it clear. Of course I realize I should not be writing posts after midnight.

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  26. Mouth watering.. Pistachio is my fav kulfi flavor. Post ramazan, i am going to sink my teeth into my fav flavors..

    Can you tell me what is ground basmati rice?

    Regular reader
    Batul

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  27. @Batul

    I just grind about 1 1/2 tbsp of whole basmati rice in coffee grinder to get about 1 tbsp of rice flour. Hope that helps! Let me know how it goes :-)

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  28. It's gorgeous! Absolutely gorgeous!!! Addition of ground rice is intriguing

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  29. A slightly chewy ice cream? I am so intrigued :)

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  30. I have to say, I always get excited about Indian street food and I'm not even from there! These kulfi look delicious...I'll definitely be giving them a try.

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  31. Holy WOW! This looks delightful! And those photos are pretty hard to resist...gorgeous!

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  32. stunning kulfi. that's so cute that even at a young age you were excited to go to India for the food.

    even when I last went to Pakistan you couldn't keep me away from the street food. it's worth getting sick, well, kind of. ;)

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  33. Absolutely beautiful!
    I think saffron in a dessert sounds just wonderful. I made a pouncake once with saffron :)

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  34. Aahh! Kulfi!! This post brings back nostalgic moments during kulfi eating in India. Great clicks honey :)

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  35. It's so hot that a kulfi would be in order right now. I have never added rice flur to kulfi before but I'll have to try it! Have a great holiday in Rajasthan Kulsum.

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  36. Wow..looks so luscious & creamy Kulsum..I really love the idea of rice flour..wud give a great texture. Love the color of your board..I need to make one in that color from times immemorial :)

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  37. looks good to me, imma try it this weekend

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  38. Kulsum, drooling !! what beautiful pictures love them

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  39. Delicious !!!! This looks divine Kulsum.... I can eat kulfi like crazy so this is a dangerously yummy post for me. Love it.

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  40. Hello - thank you so much for this recipe! I love Kulfi and it never occured to me to make it on my own...it was one of those dishes that seemed far too complicated and best left to the street vendors (I grew up in Singapore)...hmm think I may have to try it this weekend!

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  41. This looks so good. I have been trying to get kulfi moulds in bahrain, but couldn't get any. With such a huge Indian populace around, I assumed it must be easy.
    But your stainless steel idea sounds really good.
    Bookmarked!

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  42. Oh I am going to love this! I am a sucker for anything ice cream and with your fun ingredients and new flavors on this twist I am going to be in heaven! Delish. Sorry I didn't come by sooner- had a busy last end of the week

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  43. never tried indian ice cream before, will definitely try it after this post, not so sure about perfecting it

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  44. woww it looks yummy!
    thanks for the recipe!
    definitely gonna try making kulfi myself :D

    and loooovveee the photos!

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  45. So beautiful! I love kulfi but have never thought to make it at home. Thanks you so much for sharing. :)

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  46. wow. it's really a good contribution to us guys not good at icecream, you know i did some cakes before but the taste it's not good, then i quit, so if you have interesting, you can load to discount gucci handbags

    visit my new make up, give me your advice, Thanks!

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  47. Great recipe but mine is freezing rock hard. I think lowering the evaporated milk would soften it but im not sure. Ideas? (also I expanded this recipe 16x)

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