Kulfi
Milk boiled down by half and frozen hard in moulds. Denser than ice cream because it is never churned.
Photograph credit: A sweet made in Kushtia, called Kulfi Malai by মোঃ সাকিবুল হাসান · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Method
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Bring the milk to the boil in a wide heavy pan, then turn it down to a steady simmer.
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Simmer 35 minutes, stirring every few minutes and scraping the skin from the sides back into the pan.
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When it has reduced by half, stir in the sugar, cardamom and saffron.
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Stir the cornflour slurry and pour it in, stirring hard, and cook 3 minutes until it thickens.
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Take off the heat and stir in most of the pistachios and almonds, keeping some back.
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Cool to room temperature, stirring now and then to stop a skin forming.
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Pour into kulfi moulds or small cups and freeze 6 hours, until solid.
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Dip the moulds in warm water for 10 seconds to turn them out.
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Scatter the reserved nuts over and serve at once.
Chef’s Tips
- Scrape the skin back in as it forms.
- Reduced by half, not a third — that is what stops ice crystals.
- Ten seconds in warm water and it slides straight out.
Pairing Suggestions
- Falooda
- Rose syrup
- Fresh mango
Storage & Reheating
Keeps 1 month frozen, wrapped, without losing texture.
Common questions
How long does Kulfi take to make?
About 1 hour of hands-on work — 15 minutes of preparation and 45 minutes of cooking — plus 6 hours of freezing, so allow 7 hours from start to finish. The recipe serves 6.
What are the key tips for making Kulfi?
Scrape the skin back in as it forms. Reduced by half, not a third — that is what stops ice crystals. Ten seconds in warm water and it slides straight out.
What should I serve with Kulfi?
Falooda; Rose syrup; Fresh mango.
How should Kulfi be stored?
Keeps 1 month frozen, wrapped, without losing texture.
Is Kulfi suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is vegetarian and gluten-free. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Kulfi?
About 340 kcal per serving, with 11 g protein, 38 g carbohydrate and 16 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
Nutritional Highlights
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
Reader Reviews
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.