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Muhallebi - Mahalabia Dessert

Muhallebi (or Mahalabia / Muhallabieh) Dessert is a light, creamy and delicious milk pudding that's popular throughout Turkey and the Middle East. 

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings: 5 portions
Calories: 362 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Middle Eastern , Turkish

Ingredients

  • 1200 ml full-fat milk (whole milk)
  • 200 g caster or granulated sugar
  • 25 g plain white flour / all-purpose flour
  • 35 g wheat or corn starch
  • 3 pieces mastic gum (optional)
  • 10 g butter
  • berries and ground pistachio (to garnish)

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. If using mastic gum, place it in a mortar and pestle with a teaspoon of sugar and turn it into a powder, set it aside. The sugar prevents the mastic from sticking to the mortar and pestle while grinding.
  2. Pour the milk into a heavy-based pan and whisk in the sugar, flour, and starch until there are no lumps.
  3. Place the pan on medium heat and bring the mixture to a boil, while stirring continuously.
  4. When the pudding starts boiling, lower the heat and let it gently simmer for a few minutes until it thickens enough to cover the back of a spoon.
  5. Add the mastic gum and continue stirring the pudding frequently to avoid it burning.
  6. Divide the Muhallebi into individual serving bowls and let them cool down to room temperature.
  7. Transfer the bowls to the fridge and leave them to set for at least 4 hours, ideally overnight.
  8. Garnish with pistachio nuts, berries, pomegranate seeds, or pine nuts before serving.

Notes

  • Keep the Muhallebi - Mahalabia dessert refrigerated, making sure it is covered with a piece of cling film or tin foil to avoid it from absorbing other odors/flavors in the fridge.
  • This recipe makes 4 large or 5 small portions, you can easily adjust the amount of the ingredients and double the recipe if you want to feed a crowd!
  • Toast the pistachios in a pan for a few minutes to bring out their flavor. Finely chop them or blitz them in a food processor to turn them into a powder.
  • Add the nuts to the pudding last minute, just before serving to avoid them getting soft.
  • Grind the mastic gum in a mortar and pestle with a teaspoon of sugar to prevent it from sticking to the mortar and pestle.
  • Use almond milk or coconut milk for the vegan version.

Nutrition Information

Calories 362kcal (18%) Carbohydrates 61g (20%) Protein 9g (18%) Fat 10g (15%) Saturated Fat 6g (30%) Polyunsaturated Fat 0.4g Monounsaturated Fat 2g Trans Fat 0.1g Cholesterol 34mg (11%) Sodium 108mg (5%) Potassium 378mg (11%) Fiber 0.2g (1%) Sugar 52g (104%) Vitamin A 451IU (9%) Calcium 306mg (31%) Iron 0.1mg (1%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 5portions

Amount Per Serving

Calories 362

% Daily Value*

Calories 362kcal 18%
Carbohydrates 61g 20%
Protein 9g 18%
Fat 10g 15%
Saturated Fat 6g 30%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.4g 2%
Monounsaturated Fat 2g 10%
Trans Fat 0.1g 5%
Cholesterol 34mg 11%
Sodium 108mg 5%
Potassium 378mg 8%
Fiber 0.2g 1%
Sugar 52g 104%
Vitamin A 451IU 9%
Calcium 306mg 31%
Iron 0.1mg 1%

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