Recipe: How We Make Our Infamous Homemade Kulfi Ice Cream

At Purple Pepper, we’re very passionate about our homemade ice cream – with a strong preference for kulfi. Kulfi ice cream is made by boiling milk until it thickens, then adding sugar and a variety of flavourings. We’re big fans of vanilla, cardamom and pistachio flavouring – and so are our customers!

Traditional ingredients include cardamom, saffron, and sometimes fresh fruits or nuts. Unlike most Western ice creams, eggs are not typically used in making kulfi.

Kulfi is traditionally made using a metal cone called a “kulfi mold,” which is then placed in a mixture of salt and ice to freeze. This is a centuries-old technique!

Unlike Western ice creams that are whipped to incorporate air, kulfi is denser because it’s not churned. This gives it a unique, creamy texture. There are lots of variations of kulfi, but the most common are:

Plain Kulfi – The original version, flavored primarily with cardamom.

Mango Kulfi – Incorporates mango pulp for a fruity touch.

Pistachio Kulfi – Loaded with crushed pistachios for a nutty flavor.

Saffron Kulfi – Infused with saffron strands for a luxurious taste.

Malai Kulfi – Features heavy cream or ‘malai’ for extra richness.

While most ice creams use egg as a stabilizer, kulfi relies solely on the fat content from boiled milk, making it a popular choice for vegetarians. Kulfi differs from ice cream in several key ways:

Texture: Kulfi is denser because it is not churned.

Ingredients: Kulfi typically does not include eggs.

Flavor: The flavors are often more intense due to the reduction of milk.

Freezing Process: Kulfi is frozen in molds, usually conical in shape, rather than in an ice cream maker.

After many enjoyable kulfi ice cream-making sessions, we’ve refined our recipe to please even the most discerning of tastes. Why not try and re-create it at home? Our recipe is as follows:

Ingredients

4 cups of whole milk

1 cup of condensed milk

1/2 cup of sugar

1/2 teaspoon cardamom powder

A pinch of saffron strands (optional)

Instructions

1 . Boil the 4 cups of milk in a heavy-bottom pan, stirring occasionally.

2 . Add the condensed milk and continue to stir until the mixture thickens.

3 . Add sugar and cardamom powder. Stir well.

4 . Optionally, add a pinch of saffron for extra flavor.

5 . Pour the mixture into molds or cups.

6 . Freeze for at least 4-6 hours or until fully set.

Enjoy!

At Purple Pepper, we’re dedicated to delivering authentic, freshly made food for our catering services. Our kulfi ice cream is just one example of the lengths we go to in offering traditional dishes with a high-quality twist.