Malai Kulfi and its variation.

Kulfi is a popular frozen milk-based dessert from India that is often described as "traditional Indian ice-cream". It has similarities to ice cream (as popularly understood) in appearance and taste, but is denser and creamier.
It comes in various flavors, including cream (malai), raspberry, rose, mango, cardamom, saffron, the more traditional flavors. Unlike Western ice creams, kulfi is not whipped, resulting in a solid, dense frozen dessert similar to traditional custard based ice-cream. Due to its density, kulfi takes a longer time to melt than Western ice-cream.



Ingredients


• 1 (12-ounce) can evaporated milk
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk
• 1.5 cup heavy cream
• 1 tub of cool whip
• 1 teaspoon of Kewra essence (optional)
• 1/2 cup of pistachio and 1/2 cup of almond chopped in food processor (can modify the amount of nuts based on desired crunchiness in your kulfi)



Method:

* In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring evaporated milk to a boil, add cardamom.

* Once the milk is boiling, turn the heat off, cover and let it sit for 30 minutes.

* Strain the evaporated milk into a large bowl.

* Add condensed milk, heavy cream cool whip, essence and pistachios.

* Pour the mixture into molds or small bowls or a 8x8 Freezer proof baking dish.

* Cover the containers with plastic to avoid freezer burn. Freeze overnight.

* You can set them in small clay containers, which is how they serve kulfi in India nowadays and call it Matka Kulfi.

* If you have set Kulfi in a baking dish, you can cut small squares.

* If have frozen this in small molds or bowl, can run the back of bowl in water and empty the content in serving dish, and cut them in to small pieces before serving.

For variations:

* If want to make Rose Kulfi, can add Gulkand and Rose essence instead of nuts and kewra essence.

* If want to make Kesar pista Kulfi (Saffron Pistachio Kulfi, you can soak Saffron in 1 table spoon of milk and add it to the mixture instead of essence.

* If want to make Mango Kulfi can add Mango pulp to the mix, but may want to cut down on condensed milk and can omit any other essence and nuts.


Recipe adapted and modified by Surekha from different recipes by different sources (mainly family and friends)
Source for Description of Kulfi: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kulfi
Photographs By Surekha