Kulfi: How to Make Indian Ice Cream

February 26, 2021

Here at Royal Nawaab, we know that Indian cuisine isn’t exactly well known for its array of desserts as it is the selection of creamy and spicy curries that keep diners coming back for more. With this said, we want to challenge the status-quo and introduce our readers to Kulfi, a type of ice cream that is extremely popular in the South-Asian country. Read on as we explain how it is made…

Although kulfi shares a lot of similarities with Western ice-cream, it often has a distinctively different texture due to the ingredients that it is made from. Once you are prepared, begin by heating milk on a low flame for 18-20 minutes in a large pan until it reduces and thickens. Meanwhile, dissolve some corn starch in about 3 tablespoons of milk and put it to one side; it is also possible to use rice flour as a substitute to cornstarch if you are looking for a creamier texture and flavour.

A lot of traditional kulfi recipes use khoya, a dairy product that originates from India. Whilst the milk reduces, you should grate or crumble some khoya until there are no lumps or large pieces in sight. For this recipe, you will need to grind almonds and pistachio nuts into a fine powder, which can then be placed to one side with the other ingredients.

After 18-20 minutes, add a hearty amount of sugar to the milk and stir consistently in order to remove any lumps. Once the sugar has completely dissolved, you can add the rice flour/cornstarch mixture and continue stirring for another 5-6 minutes before adding the khoya and nut powder you prepared earlier on. Simmer the kulfi mixture on a low flame for a couple of minutes until the khoya has evaporated then take it off the heat and allow it to cool before pouring it into moulds or serving dishes. Finally, place them into the freezer to set for several hours and remove from the moulds or containers to serve.

It can be daunting to try dishes that you have never encountered before, particularly when you aren’t accustomed to venturing outside your dietary comfort-zone, however Kulfi is just one of many traditional Indian desserts that diners have to choose from. To find out more information, get in contact with the best Indian restaurant around and speak to a member of the Royal Nawaab team today!