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Indian Musings Puddings/Dessert Vegetarian

Almond Kulfi for St Patrick’s Day

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I know, I know! It’s not green beer but it tastes SO good! Almond Kulfi for St Patrick’s Day is perfect for any green gathering. It was supposed to be a pistachio kulfi (for the natural green colour) but I kept forgetting to buy the dang things so I just dyed the kulfi green :).

I am quite certain the patron saint of Ireland would approve of this very rich and decadent dessert without all the extravagance of a rich and decadent dessert. It is very simple and quite rustic in its preparation and also happens to be very easy to make. 

St Patrick was a Christian missionary and a bishop in Ireland who lived and taught around the fifth century. He died on March 17 and St Patrick’s Day is celebrated on this day around the world. March 17 around the world has become a celebration of Ireland itself with St Patrick’s Day parties with Irish food and all things green.

Of course, Ireland is not known for Indian food but being across from the British Isles where there is plenty of great Indian food, I am sure it has found its way to Ireland. I never had a chance to visit Ireland and I regret not going now. My father visited County Kerry once and he said it was beautiful. Ireland is on my list of places to visit.

Typical Irish food back in the day, was simple and homey. Potatoes were a staple and fresh meat was an indulgence only for the affluent. Any meat that was acquired was usually cured to extend its life. The countryside provided greens, mushrooms and berries and foraging was encouraged. Ireland being an island, seafood was easily available.

Nowadays, every cuisine has made its way to Ireland and even traditional Irish food has had a revival with emphasis on fresh vegetables and seafood. The production of some great Irish cheeses and of course the potato, has seen a resurgence in popularity of great traditional Irish food like Irish stew, colcannon, the full Irish breakfast.

Anyway, my kulfi (Indian ice cream) is hardly traditional Irish fare but it can be  a new tradition representative of the cultures that cross the borders. More than anything, it’s really delicious. 

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kulfi

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Almond Kulfi for St Patrick’s Day

Prep time: 

Total time: 

Serves: 8½ cup servings

Ingredients
  • 2 cups/473mL heavy cream
  • 2 cups/473mL milk
  • ½ cup/115g raw turbinado sugar
  • 8 cardamom pods
  • 1 cup/170g ground almonds
  • food colouring, optional
Instructions
  1. In a heavy bottomed pan, bring the milk, cream and cardamom pods to a simmer.
  2. Simmer for about 20/30 minutes until there are about 2 cups of the mixture left.
  3. Fish out the cardamom pods.
  4. Add the raw sugar and stir until dissolved.
  5. Add the ground almonds and stir until combined.
  6. Allow to cook a little until the mixture thickens.
  7. Pour into small ½ cup/118mL custard cups or even a large container.
  8. Freeze until set, about 4 hours.
  9. To unmold, dip the bottom in hot water to loosen the kulfi and then place a plate on top and flip over.
  10. The kulfi should pop out, shake if needed.
  11. If you have frozen the kulfi in a large container, let it soften a bit and then scoop out like ice-cream.
Notes
You can use cardamom powder but to me it doesn't smell like fresh cardamom. You can always take out the seeds and grind them, but it's just as easy to fish them out of the milk mixture. I like my kulfi dense with lots of almonds. I used ground almonds and you can whiz them in the processor if you like it really fine. Just be careful not to make almond butter. I also like a lot of cardamom, if you are not fond of cardamom, I guess you can use vanilla but then it wouldn't really be kulfi.
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kulfi

 

Hope you all have a great week. Make some almond kulfi for a mid week treat if you aren’t planning a St Patrick’s Day celebration. 


Comments

  4. I love the idea of green Kulfi! Very creative. And Kulfi tastes so good, that I’ll take any excuse to eat it. Besides, are there really that many uniquely Irish dessert recipes? 😉 Good stuff – thanks.
    john@kitchenriffs recently posted..Irish Soda BreadMy Profile

  6. Traditions are made by people and they can change it anyway they want.I am sure St Patrick would love this almond kulfi if he had tasted! This is my favorite, though I have not made it from long time. I just enjoy the ‘matka style kulfi’ and falooda ice cream that we get here.
    Balvinder recently posted..Punjabi KadhiMy Profile

    • Oh, you have some places there? When I was in Houston we had plenty of places for falooda and kulfi, here in Denver, not one. Thats why I am making it for myself!

    • Thanks Jen! Make it at home, it’s really easy just takes a little time but it’s so worth it!

    • Thank you for such a lovely compliment Bobbi! The little garnish went quite well actually, I was surprised. Thanks!

    • Thanks Charlie! There are only a few ways you can photograph a melting mass! I tried my best quickly! I wasn’t too happy with the shape of my jelly smear…if you know what I mean xx

  11. You know it is 30+ degrees here and this would be a treat…love the color….try using saffron and pistachio next time….you will love it….I am drooling over and wish to gulp a scoop right now…

    • Thanks Lubna. Yes, it was supposed to be pistachio, but I kept forgetting to buy them, I had almonds so I used those instead.

  13. I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Ireland one December. It’s a beautiful place and the people very friendly. I hope you can get there one day, Nazneen. I’ve never tried kulfi before but it does sound like I’ve been missing out on a great treat. Thanks for sharing your recipe.
    ChgoJohn recently posted..Grilled Swordfish with Salsa VerdeMy Profile

    • You’re lucky John! I lived in England all those years and figured I’d get to Ireland someday…what was the hurry right? If you haven’t tried kulfi you must!I think you’d really like it.

    • Thanks Denise! I think so, it’s too delicious not to like and I think the great Saint would approve.

    • St Patrick’s Day is celebrated here in the US with great gusto, but I think they’ve kind of ruined the proper, solemn meaning to it. It’s all about corned beef, cabbage and green beer. None of those things are traditionally Irish.

    • Thanks Lail! I hear wonderful things about it and if I get back to England, that’ll be my first stop!

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