Kulfi () is a frozen Dairy product dessert from the Indian subcontinent. It is often described as "traditional Indian ice cream".
Kulfi is denser and creamier than regular ice cream.
History
The word
kulfi comes from the
Persian language (قلفی) meaning "covered cup". The dessert originated in Delhi during the
Mughal Empire in the 16th century.
The mixture of dense evaporated milk was already popular in the sweet dishes in the Indian subcontinent. During the Mughal period, this mixture was flavoured with pistachios and saffron, packed into metal cones and immersed in
slurry ice, resulting in the invention of kulfi.
Ain-i-Akbari, a detailed record of the Mughal emperor
Akbar's administration, mentions use of
saltpeter for refrigeration as well as transportation of Himalayan ice to warmer areas.
Although Delhi has been described as the birthplace of kulfi, Australian food historian Charmaine O'Brien suggests, "...it is likely that kulfi originally evolved in the cooler climates of Persia or Samarkand and that the Mughals appropriated the concept and elaborated on it to create the creamy, perfumed dessert that it now is."
Preparation
To prepare kulfi, sweetened, flavoured milk is slow cooked. The milk is stirred almost continuously to prevent it from sticking to the cooking utensil. During this process, the milk condenses and thickens.
The slow cooking
Caramelization the sugar in the mixture and browns its milk proteins, giving kulfi its distinctive taste.
The mixture is then poured into moulds (often
kulhar) and sealed. The sealed moulds are submerged in an insulated
matka filled with ice and salt. This quickly freezes the mixture, giving it a soft, smooth consistency free of ice crystals. Kulfi prepared in this traditional way is called
matka kulfi.
The moulds are removed from the freezer 10–15 minutes before serving to allow the kulfi to melt slightly. The kulfi is then removed from the moulds and garnished with ground cardamom, saffron, or pistachios. Kulfi is also served with falooda (vermicelli noodles).
Retail sales
Throughout the Indian subcontinent, kulfi is sold by street vendors known as
kulfiwallahs. It is also commonly served in Indian restaurants.
Gallery
File:Kesari Aam Kulfi 01.jpg|Saffron- and mango-flavoured kulfi
File:Strawbeerry kulfi.JPG|Kulfi with strawberry sauce
File:Kulfi.jpg|Pistachio-, vanilla-, and rose-flavoured kulfi
File:Kulfi Faluda.jpg|Kulfi with falooda (vermicelli noodles)
File:Kulfi (1).jpg|A vendor ( kulfiwallah) selling kulfi in India
See also
