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5.0 from 3 votes

Falooda (Pakistani Ice Cream Dessert)

Falooda (Pakistani Ice Cream Dessert) is a layered dessert made with jelly, basil seeds, vermicelli, kulfi, and rose-flavored half and half.

Prep Time
15 mins
Additional Time
5 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 910 kcal
Course: Dessert , Drinks
Cuisine: Indian , Persian , Pakistani

Ingredients

  • 1 cup red jelly (see notes)
  • 2 tablespoon basil seeds (see notes)
  • 1 cup rice noodles (see notes)
  • ½ cup rose syrup (see notes)
  • 4 coops kulfi (see notes)
  • 2 cups half-and-half (see notes)
  • 2 tablespoon chopped pistachios
  • 4 whole cardamom (optional)

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Break the rice noodles into small pieces and put them in a medium-sized bowl (see notes).
  2. Boil 3 cups of water and pour it over the noodles. Stir to make sure the noodles aren't sticking to each other and set aside for 15 minutes.
  3. Soak the basil seeds in 2 cups of room-temperature water and wait 15 minutes for the seeds to expand.
  4. Take four chilled serving glasses and put ¼ cup of the red jelly in each one.
  5. Strain the soaked basil seeds to remove excess water and add an equal portion to each glass on top of the jelly.
  6. Add in the strained and softened rice noodles next.
  7. Drizzle the red-colored rose syrup over the noodles.
  8. Top these with a scoop of the Kulfi (see notes).
  9. Pour ½ a cup of the half-and-half into each glass.
  10. Garnish with the chopped pistachios and serve.

Notes

  • Red Jelly - You can buy a packet of jelly crystals and make it yourself or buy some ready-made. Snack Pack is Kosher, Halal, Vegetarian, Vegan, and Gluten Free.
  • Basil Seeds - I recommend sourcing basil seeds for the best results. If that isn't possible, then chia seeds make a good substitute.
  • Rice Noodles - Although traditional Falooda noodles are made from cornstarch, rice noodles are easier to source and work just as well. Break up the rice noodles into small pieces so the dessert is easier to eat. I usually use a clean pair of kitchen scissors and cut them into pieces after soaking them. This is much easier than breaking them when they're still hard.
  • Rose Syrup - Many types of rose syrups are available in stores, but the most authentic one is called "Rooh Afza." It's readily available on Amazon and is always the one I use.
  • Kulfi - I make my own super easy Kulfi (recipe on the blog) and use it in my Falooda. However, you can use plain ice cream if that seems too much work. 
  • Half and Half - I prefer half-and-half instead of milk for my recipe. The amount given above is approximate, and you may need more or less depending on the size of your serving glass.
  • Cardamom - I like to add freshly crushed cardamom seeds to my Falooda if I use store-bought ice cream instead of Kulfi. It gives it a more authentic taste. ¼ teaspoon of cardamom powder can be used as a substitute if needed.
  • The Dessert glasses - Tall glasses work best for serving the Falooda, so the beautiful layers and colors can be seen. The quantities in this recipe are based on using an eight-ounce glass. If your glasses are a different size you may need to adjust the quantities a little bit.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1serving Calories 910kcal (46%) Carbohydrates 163g (54%) Protein 10g (20%) Fat 25g (38%) Saturated Fat 13g (65%) Polyunsaturated Fat 3g Monounsaturated Fat 7g Trans Fat 0.01g Cholesterol 71mg (24%) Sodium 287mg (12%) Potassium 464mg (13%) Fiber 5g (20%) Sugar 91g (182%) Vitamin A 725IU (15%) Vitamin C 9mg (10%) Calcium 289mg (29%) Iron 3mg (17%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 910

% Daily Value*

Serving 1serving
Calories 910kcal 46%
Carbohydrates 163g 54%
Protein 10g 20%
Fat 25g 38%
Saturated Fat 13g 65%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g 18%
Monounsaturated Fat 7g 35%
Trans Fat 0.01g 1%
Cholesterol 71mg 24%
Sodium 287mg 12%
Potassium 464mg 10%
Fiber 5g 20%
Sugar 91g 182%
Vitamin A 725IU 15%
Vitamin C 9mg 10%
Calcium 289mg 29%
Iron 3mg 17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.