Kesar Kulfi Recipe – Indian Ice Cream with Saffron. Vegan Glutenfree

Color me Saffron I say.

Kulfi is one of those things that everyone in my house loves. We has our favorite Kulfi wala(Kulfi cart pushed by the seller), who would roam the streets in the summer heat and hand out kulfis. Our Pomeranian would alert us to the presence of the cart in the neighborhood, coz she would get a small kulfi everytime we bought some too.

The Kulfi Wala’s Kulfi has a distinct saffron taste, was quite salty and was thickened with some starch, most likely arrowroot. Most other Kulfi served in the restaurants have similar versions, some with nuts like Pistachios added, some with other flavors like cardamom or rose or mango and so on.

This post is about Kesar(Saffron) Kulfi, unchurned Indian Ice cream with loads of Saffron. No Ice cream maker needed!

This version has Coconut milk, some cashew flour, cornstarch, sugar syrup and saffron. I also made this with half almond milk and half coconut for a batch and added some coarsely ground pistachios in another one for variations. I made the first batch 2 days into my parents visit and Dad has been asking for some every other day ;). It was so creamy that he thought it was made with condensed milk. The batch with half almond and half coconut milk has almost no coconut milk taste, which was Mom’s favorite. Mom will make the next batch so she remembers the recipe 🙂

Below, One of the batches with a little less Saffron and more nuts. 





You can add dried fruits to the Kulfi too. Some fresh fruit puree like strawberry can be added to to the sugar to make the syrup for a strawberry Kulfi. How do you like your Kulfi?

More Kulfis like this Pistachio Almond Kulfi and Indian desserts here. 

I have been nominated for Indian Blogger Awards 2013 here. Please do drop me a recommendation 🙂 Thanks! 

Steps:

Soak Saffron in water, then add sugar and bring to a bubbling boil.



Add coconut milk, cashew flour, cornstarch and mix well. Bring to a boil, then take off heat.



Add milks( nuts, dried fruit, other additions). Mix well.



Pour into pop molds or bowls or square ice cube tray. 



I used a shot glass for the kulfi in the pictures:). The usual Kulfi mold is long and conical, like some popsicle molds. Since I dont have any proper Ice cream molds, I have to wait for the kulfi to soften to pop it out. Hence, the melty Kulfi.