How to Make Kulfi in Thandai Flavor

Make Kulfi, the traditional Indian ice cream in a new flavour by adding Thandai powder to it. This Thandai flavoured Kulfi s really aromatic with the flavours of nuts and spices.

This kulfi is made in the traditional method by simmering milk till it is reduced to half, without adding any cornflour or condensed milk.

Kulfi, kheer, halwa, laddoo are some of the traditional sweets that are usually made in all Indian kitchens. And our house is no exception. All the family members with a sweet tooth, there has to be some sweet... either homemade or store-bought.

And in summers, kulfi was the most preferred option. My mother in law made excellent kulfi. She made it in a very simple way by reducing the milk for at least an hour or till reduced to almost half. She neither used cornflour nor condensed milk. She made it rich by adding lots of reserved (in refrigerator) milk cream (malai) and of course nuts and flavourings. And trust me, it tasted Divine. Mostly throughout summers, it used to be in our freezer.

Today, I am sharing with you the same recipe with a new flavour. This new flavour is of Thandai. Yes, along with nuts and flavourings, I have added Thandai powder to it and it tasted awesome. My husband loves thandai as well as kulfi. so thought of mixing the two and thus came up with this Thandai Kulfi. Thandai, a mix of nuts and spices, is also known as summer coolant. It keeps the body cool and gives very good protection from hot winds (loo).

What is Kulfi

Kulfi is traditionally prepared by evaporating sweetened and flavoured milk via slow cooking, with almost continuous stirring to keep milk from sticking to the bottom of the vessel where it might burn, until its volume is reduced by a half. Thickening increases its fat, protein, and lactose density.
Kulfi is also served with Falooda (vermicelli noodles made from starch).
Traditionally, kulfi is set in specially formed earthen pots. Even today, if you go to Old Delhi to eat kulfi, you will find it in earthen pots only.
The most popular flavours of kulfi are Kesar-Pista, mango, rose, cream or malai, pomegranate and the latest is Paan kulfi. You can read more about kulfi, here.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

I have used Low-fat milk here, as that is what we get in daily, and thus added a lot of cream (malai) in it. You can go for the same or full cream milk.
Instead of white sugar, it is sweetened with honey.
It is perfect for the festival of Holi as well as to beat the heat in peak summers.

Tip

This recipe of Thandai Kulfi is very simple recipe but time-consuming. Milk is reduced to almost half on sim gas which takes all the time. It takes normally an hour or a little more. What I do is start making this while preparing dinner. So, keep on stirring it in between and it gets prepared without much hassle.

Step By Step Recipe

Boil Milk.

Remove 1/4 cup milk in a bowl and add Thandai powder to it. Leave it for 15 minutes (or longer).

After some time the Thandai paste will look like this...

Let the milk get reduced on sim gas. Keep stirring in between.

After about half an hour, when the milk is reduced a little then add Thandai paste and milk cream.

Soak saffron in 1 tablespoon milk. Chop almonds and blanched pistachios finely.

Trim the edges of the bread and soak it in 2 or 3 tablespoons of milk.

Blend the bread mix in the blender.

When the milk is reduced to half, add almonds, pistachios, dried and crushed rose petals and saffron milk.

When the mix cools down then add bread paste and honey.

Fill the kulfi moulds. Set in the freezer for 4 to 6 hours. (I added cocoa powder in just 2 kulfis on my son's demand to make it chocolaty)

Close the lids and set them in the freezer for 4 to 6 hours.

Rub between your hands and demould it. Serve cold kulfi with a warm smile.

FAQs

Q) Why bread is added to it?

Bread is added to give the grainy texture to the kulfi, similar to the ones we get in the market. But this is not necessary and you can avoid it if not comfortable using it. Especially if making to eat it during fasts then avoid bread.
Also, take care that bread is added in limited quantity only. If added too much it spoils the taste of kulfi. Like I have added 1 slice of brown bread in 1 litre of milk.

Q) Why add honey to it?

Because of two reasons. Firstly, undoubtedly, honey is a healthy option. Secondly, because, as I said my hubby has a sweet tooth and unfortunately he has diabetes so I thought of making it sugar-free. Now, though small portions only, but he can have it. You will not at all miss sugar in this kulfi.

Q) Instead of Thandai powder, can I add Thandai syrup to it?

Yes, but readymade Thandai syrup is loaded with sugar so reduce the quantity of honey. Also, add this syrup in the last, at the time when honey is added.

Q) Is honey good for diabetics?

Honey may not be the best option for diabetics but definitely, it is better than white sugar.
It has fewer calories and a low Glycemic Index, it does not raise blood sugar levels as rapidly as white sugar.
To know more about this, read here. But as there are mixed responses regarding usage of honey in diabetes then if you are diabetic then it best is to check with your doctor. If your doctor advises you to consume honey then go for it otherwise replace it with some other sugar substitute like stevia or that you normally use.
A few days back, we went out for dinner and in desserts, my husband asked for sugar-free kulfi. What he was served was a kulfi along with a sugar-free sachet. That is, sprinkle it on kulfi as per your requirement. Even that tasted good.

Q) Can I add sugar instead of honey?

In case you wish to add sugar, then reduce milk further for few minutes after adding sugar.

Q) How Kulfi is different from ice cream?

Kulfi or say traditional Indian ice cream is denser and creamier than modern-day ice cream. The dessert, most probably, originated in the Mughal Empire in the 16th century.
Unlike ice cream, kulfi is not whipped and is set directly after reducing the milk and adding flavours. It is garnished with ground cardamom, saffron, or pistachio nuts.

Q) How can I make it if I do not have moulds?

Use disposable cups by inserting an ice cream stick into it. . Once set, peel the paper and you have kulfi ready.
Set it in any shallow tray. Cut pieces and serve.

Some More Icecream Recipes:

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