Kulfi
Photo: danchitnis · CC BY 2.0

History

Kulfi is a frozen dairy dessert whose name comes from the Persian word for a covered cup, and many histories place its origin in Mughal Delhi in the sixteenth century. Milk was boiled down, flavoured with pistachio and saffron and frozen in sealed metal cones. The Times of India has named Kuremal Mohan Lal Kulfi Wale, founded in 1906 in Old Delhi, among the country's best-known kulfi makers.

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Common allergens: Dairy, Tree nuts

Make it at home

Yield Makes 6 kulfisHands-on 1 hrTotal 9 hrDifficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • 1.5 litres full-fat milk
  • 100g sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • A pinch of saffron
  • 30g pistachios, finely chopped
  • 20g almonds, finely chopped

Method

  1. Bring the milk to a boil in a wide, heavy pan, then simmer, stirring and scraping the sides often, until reduced to about a third, 45 to 60 minutes.
  2. Stir in the sugar, cardamom and saffron and cook 5 minutes more.
  3. Cool completely, then stir in most of the nuts.
  4. Pour into kulfi moulds, small cups or paper cups and cover tightly.
  5. Freeze for at least 8 hours.
  6. Dip the moulds briefly in hot water to release, slice and serve topped with the remaining nuts.

Tip from the editors. Keep stirring the milk skin back in as it reduces; it gives kulfi its grainy, dense texture.

Where to eat kulfi

Kulfi in Delhi

Kuremal Mohan Lal Kulfi Wale ★ 4.7

$ Street foodOld Delhi

Kuremal Mohan Lal Kulfi Wale freezes kulfi inside hollowed fruit shells near Chawri Bazar metro, a family trade in Old Delhi that dates back to 1906.

OrderStuffed mango or pomegranate kulfi.

TipThe stuffed kulfi is set back inside the real fruit, using its own pulp; the shop opens every day from 11:00 to 23:00.

Directions

Roshan Di Kulfi ★ 4.4

$ Street foodKarol Bagh

Roshan Di Kulfi has served kulfi faluda and chole bhature on Ajmal Khan Road in Karol Bagh, Delhi, since 1951, with a dine-in room behind the counter.

OrderKulfi faluda and a plate of chole bhature.

TipThe dine-in room gets crowded at meal times; kulfi faluda is the draw, with chole bhature and bhalla papdi for a fuller meal.

Directions

Giani's Di Hatti ★ 4.3

$ Street foodOld Delhi

Giani's Di Hatti scoops rabri faluda and kulfi from a Fatehpuri counter at the western end of Chandni Chowk, a Delhi dessert stop that closes before dinner.

OrderRabri faluda topped with a scoop of kulfi.

TipShuts by 19:00, earlier than most Chandni Chowk food stops, so go before evening.

Directions

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Kulfi in Jaipur

Pandit Kulfi ★ 4.2

$ Street foodOld City

Pandit Kulfi is a long-running kulfi shop at 110 Hawa Mahal Road in the old city of Jaipur, known for kesar and rabri kulfi, open until 23:30 every day.

OrderThe kesar kulfi and the rabri kulfi; Outlook Traveller Eats also hears good things of the chocolate kulfi.

TipOutlook Traveller Eats names Ramchandra Kulfi Wala in Tripolia Bazar as the close rival if the queue is long.

Directions

Ramchandra Kulfi Bhandar ★ 3.7

$ Ice creamOld City

Ramchandra Kulfi Bhandar on Tripolia Bazaar in Jaipur sells kulfi near Badi Chaupar until 23:00; Outlook Traveller's writer rates it a rival to Pandit Kulfi.

OrderThe kulfi, then a taste-off against Pandit Kulfi's kesar and rabri flavours.

Why locals goPandit Kulfi near Hawa Mahal gets the headline in Outlook Traveller's guide; its writer says this Tripolia Bazaar shop gives it close competition.

TipThe shop is on Tripolia Bazaar by Badi Chaupar and keeps late hours, so it works as a last stop after an evening walk through the old city.

Directions

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More cities are in research. Want kulfi covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.

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