Products
Pista Kulfi (Pistachio Ice Cream)
July 22nd, 2008 filed under Desserts
Kulfi is a very popular Indian ice cream. Kulfi comes in a variety of different flavors. Traditional kulfi is flavored with cardamom; this recipe is flavored with cardamom and pistachios.
Serves 6.
Ingredients:
- 4 cups whole milk
- 1 slice of white bread
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1/4 cup sugar, adjust to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground cardamom (ilachi)
- 10 pistachios sliced
Method
- Remove the crust from all sides of the bread and cut the bread in small pieces.
- Blend bread pieces, cornstarch, and a 1/2 cup of milk, making smooth paste and set aside.
- Boil remaining milk (3.5 cups) in nonstick frying pan on medium high heat.
- Stir milk as needed to keep milk from burning on the bottom of the frying pan. Stir the sides of the pan to avoid scalding.
- After milk comes to boil, let the milk boil for another 12 minutes. The goal is to boil the milk from 3 1/2 cups to 2 1/2 cups.
- Add the bread mixture to the milk in frying the pan and cook for another 4 minutes, reducing the heat to medium. Bread and cornstarch are added to reduce the water crystallizing in kulfi during freezing.
- Next add sugar and pistachios and cook for 2 more minutes.
- Turn off the heat and add cardamom powder.
- Cool the milk to room temperature and pour into a bowl,
- Take cellophane wrap and place it right over the milk covering it completely. Note: It is important that the cellophane wrap touches the milk.
- Put it in freezer. It will take about 7 hours for the kulfi to be ready to serve.
Variations
- Replace pistachios with almond or coconut powder.
- Replace pistachios with finally chopped fruits like mangos or strawberries. Add fruits in the end after turning off the heat.
- Many people enjoy eating kulfi like a Popsicle. Before freezing, pour the milk mixture in to a Popsicle mold. If you don’t have Popsicle mold use small paper cups and place cellophane wrap on top of the milk and place a Popsicle stick in center of cup and freeze.
I made the kulfi yesterday and it was AWESOME! I did not have any crystalizing problem like others. To freeze it, instead of using a bowl, I used a silicone muffin pan to make individual kulfi. I covered it really well with a plastic wrap like the recipe. Unmolding was easy too as it was silicone. I just had to push each kulfi from the back after few minutes or so. Superb! thanks Aunty!
Forgot to mention one thing….the recipe made 6 invidual kulfis. It will be fantastic to serve this decorated with few pcs of pista on top and a mint sprig!
hello manjula ji,can i use ararowt instead of cornstarch in this recipe.
Hello Manjula auntyji,
Happy new Year!!
I tried making kulfi using exact measures and ingredients that you have mentioned. But unfortunately, it has still crystallized when frozen. I poured some in pop moulds (no cellophane paper used and the rest in a freezer dish covering with cellophane paper touching the liquid. It tastes perfect but the ice crystals are making it disappointing. Pl suggest!!
Malini
Which pista should we use for kulfi salted or unsalted please reply.
Hi Vilma, Use unsalted Pista.
For Indian sweets, always use the unsalted version of whatever the nut is. Generally, the unsalted nuts are easier to find in Indian grocery stores. American grocery stores usually sell the salted kinds for snacking.
Hello Aunty,
Can we use half and half instead of wholemilk for this recipe? Does it make the recipe richer and does it also reduce the boiling time of milk? Please reply me aunty. Tomorrow is my husband’s birthday and I want to surprise him with Kulfi. Thank you.
Hi Bhuvana,
As you mention half and half will do both things make it richer and will reduce the cooking time.
Dear Manjula aunti
What is cornstarch, is it referred to as cornflour?? If not can u buy easly cornstrach in market??? Thanks a lot.
Manju Madam,
Can you please explain cake and Home made choclate with out using oven, as i didnt have oven in my home. Awaiting for your reply.
Dear
Manjula madam,
You were simply great. the dishes your making is very very easy to do. I made rasagulla and aloo paratha. My husband admired a lot and my in laws enjoy. Thanks a lot, I am newly married and need your blessings.