Kesar Pista Kulfi is a rich and aromatic Indian ice cream made with saffron (kesar) and pistachios (pista), offering a creamy, luxurious treat that’s perfect for any occasion. Unlike regular ice cream, kulfi has a denser, creamier texture, making each bite indulgent and satisfying. This dessert brings together the subtle sweetness of saffron and the nutty richness of pistachios, creating a symphony of flavors that’s both refreshing and decadent.
The base of Kesar Pista Kulfi is made by simmering full-fat milk until it thickens, creating a luscious, creamy consistency. The magic of this kulfi lies in its flavorings: saffron threads, which are gently soaked in warm milk to release their vibrant color and fragrant aroma, and crushed pistachios, which are folded into the mixture for a crunchy bite. The combination of saffron’s floral notes and pistachio’s nutty richness offers a perfect balance of flavors.
The custard-like mixture is then sweetened with sugar and left to cool before being poured into molds for freezing. As it freezes, the kulfi develops a velvety smooth texture that’s firmer than traditional ice cream, making it easy to cut into slices or scoop into cones.
For an extra touch of elegance, you can garnish the kulfi with additional crushed pistachios or slivers of almonds. A few strands of saffron on top not only enhance the visual appeal but also intensify the aromatic experience.
Kesar Pista Kulfi is traditionally served as a dessert during festive occasions like Diwali, Eid, or family gatherings, but it can be enjoyed any time of the year, especially during hot weather. Its creamy texture and the unique combination of saffron and pistachios make it a standout treat that everyone will love.
In summary, Kesar Pista Kulfi is a delightful, fragrant dessert that brings the best of traditional Indian flavors into a frozen form. With its rich, creamy texture and the delicate taste of saffron and pistachio, it’s a treat that offers both indulgence and a touch of elegance with every bite.
Ingredients
- 2 litres milk full fat
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup khoya (mawa) grated
- 1/4 cup pistachios chopped
- 1/4 cup chopped almonds
- 1/4 tsp saffron strands kesar
- 1/4 tsp cardamom powder elaichi
Instructions
- Heat a thick bottomed pan and pour the milk into it.
- Bring the milk to a boil and stir occasionally to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- Add the sugar and continue to boil the milk on low to medium heat until it reduces to half.
- Add the grated khoya, chopped pistachios, chopped almonds, saffron strands, and cardamom powder to the reduced milk.
- Mix well and cook for another 5 minutes on low heat.
- Remove the pan from the heat and let the mixture cool.
- Once cooled, pour the kulfi mixture into kulfi molds or any airtight container.
- Place the molds/containers in the freezer and let it set for at least 6 hours or overnight.
- Remove the kulfi from the molds/containers and serve it chilled.
Kesar kulfi not have chocolate? Sad. Maybe I add chocolate next time.
Kesar + pista + cardamom = heaven. I love that you only cook 5 mins after adding the dry stuff; keeps that nutty flavor.
Pretty good, but mine froze a little too hard. Next time I’ll watch the reduction and maybe keep it slightly less thick before freezing.
I never made kulfi before, but this recipe is easy to follow. Can’t wait to see how mine turns out! 😍
This seems kinda easy, but do you really need khoya? Can’t you just use milk and sugar? 🤔
I’m sure you’ll nail it! Kulfi is amazing, especially when made with love. Enjoy! 😊
Yummmm!! I love kulfi and this recipe was so easy! My kids enjoyed it too. Will make again.
This kulfi is absolutely delicious! I loved the saffron flavor. Will make it again!
Just okay. I mean, kulfi is fine, but who needs another frozen dessert when ice cream exists? 😒
I get what you mean, but kulfi has its own charm! It’s creamier and has those lovely flavors. Ice cream is good, but kulfi is like a step up! 🙌
Do I really need that much milk? Seems like a lot.
Too complicated for me. I just want something quick. Maybe I’ll just buy kulfi next time.
Mine got a little grainy when it reduced—maybe I boiled too aggressively? Still tasted good, just not the smooth kulfi texture I was hoping for.
I don’t get why people put saffron in everything! It’s just milk ice cream, come on.
6 hours is not enough, it needs overnight. The texture was icy after 6 hours for me.
Isn’t khoya just another name for milk? Why do I need it?
I used almond milk instead and it was still good. Just saying!
I made something similar but didn’t add khoya. This recipe feels more legit with the mawa—good balance. Also, saffron strands are a must!
I tried, but I messed up step 3 and boiled on high—milk split a bit. 😭 But with low heat it should work.
Absolutely delicious! It reminds me of my childhood. This recipe is a keeper!
I made it but used half the sugar. Came out okay. Not too sweet, just the way I like it.
This kulfi is delicious! So creamy and the pistachios add a nice crunch. Definitely a 5-star recipe!
Why so much milk? Can’t we use less? I’m skeptical about this recipe.
I think the milk is fine! It makes the kulfi creamy and rich. Skipping on it might ruin the texture.
But why so much? Seems a bit excessive, don’t you think? I feel like less milk could still work.
Tried this today—super rich and fragrant. The kesar + cardamom combo is on point. Mine took closer to 7 hours to set, but it was worth it.
Gonna try it with less milk and see what happens. Wish me luck!
Good luck! I believe in you! Less milk might make it creamier. Let us know how it turns out!
Kulfi? Isn’t it just ice cream? Whatever, tastes good.
Kulfi is way more creamy than regular ice cream! You gotta try it before judging! ❤️
Ice cream is ice cream tho, how would you know it’s different? This looks too complicated for me.
I tried this recipe and my family went crazy for it! Thank you!
So glad to hear it! Kulfi is the best treat for summer! 🍦
Absolutely delicious! This kulfi reminds me of my childhood. Thank you!
Kulfi? I thought it was supposed to be ice cream! Whatever it is, it tastes good! 😁
Kulfi is kinda like ice cream but way better! The flavors are so rich, especially with pistachios and saffron. You gotta love it! 🥰
Saffron + pistachios combo is elite. Only thing is 1/4 tsp cardamom felt strong, so I’d use a pinch next time.
Cardamom is so strong! I do 1/8 tsp for mine and it still smells amazing. Great call on the pinch.
Agree 100%—kesar-pista is the best pairing. I also feel cardamom can overpower, so a pinch makes sense.
I tried this but it turned out too sweet for my taste. I think less sugar would work better.
Not gonna lie, “stir occasionally” is risky for thick milk. If I’m not constantly watching, it sticks. Maybe lower heat?
Kulfis are the best! 😍
Yum! My whole family loved it. Thank you for sharing! 😊
So glad to hear that! It’s one of my favorites too! 😍
Too sweet for my taste. Next time, I’ll cut down the sugar.
I like that it’s simple and doesn’t overcomplicate anything. However, 1 cup sugar felt a bit much for my taste, so next time I’ll reduce it slightly.
The instructions are clear, but 2 litres feels like a lot—won’t it take forever to reduce to half? Might be fine though.
Yeah 2 litres is a lot, but reducing it to half usually isn’t “forever” if you keep it on the right heat and stir. I’ve done similar—about 45-70 mins depending on your pan.
Way too sweet for my taste. I think 1 cup of sugar is too much!
Tasted great but I think I put too much khoya! Is it supposed to be this thick? 🤔
My mom made this when we were little but I can’t remember all the steps!
Wow, made this for my kid’s birthday and they loved it! Easy and tasty!
Made this today—so creamy and the kesar smell is unreal. I reduced the milk a bit longer and it turned out perfect.
I tried this recipe but my kulfi didn’t set properly. What am I doing wrong? It just turned into icy milk blobs. Help!
It sounds like you might not have boiled the milk long enough. The milk needs to reduce quite a bit for the kulfi to set properly. Try cooking it longer next time!
Did you use full-fat milk? Low-fat won’t work! And make sure you freeze it long enough, at least overnight!
Tried this recipe, but my kulfi didn’t set properly. What did I do wrong? 😟
Maybe you didn’t freeze it long enough? Mine took like 8 hours to set. Don’t lose hope! 🙌
Tastes fabulous! I even used coconut milk and it turned out great!
Wow, coconut milk sounds like a fun twist! I’ll have to try that next time.
I’ve never made kulfi before but this seemed easy. I might add more pistachios next time. Love the crunch!
It was okay. Adding more nuts next time!
Bad instructions, should be clearer.
I’m skeptical about only cooking it 5 more minutes after adding khoya. Doesn’t khoya need longer to fully blend? But maybe it works if you keep it low heat.
I get your skepticism. Khoya can be a bit stubborn, but if it’s grated and you’re already at reduced/low heat, 5 minutes might be enough to melt and evenly mix. Still, low and steady is key.
Super easy for a “fancy” dessert. The instructions are clear—just be patient with the reduction.
Not sure about the khoya amount—mine didn’t fully blend, like small bits stayed. Still tasted nice though.
I don’t have khoya so I’ll try milk powder maybe? Please don’t roast me 😂 But I like the idea of thickening first.
This recipe is not authentic. Real kulfi doesn’t use sugar like that! 😡
I think sugar is OK in this recipe! It adds sweetness. 😋
But you can make kulfi without sugar! I don’t get why this recipe is different. 😕
Looks fancy, but freezer kulfi is just ice i think 😅
Dunno yaar, 2 litres milk seems like too much—won’t it become dry? I guess if it reduces properly it’s okay.
This kulfi was to die for! Creamy and delicious, just like the ones from the street vendors. Definitely making this again!
I’m glad you loved it! Kulfi is such a treat, especially in summer! How did you get it so creamy?
I tried this recipe, but mine didn’t taste as good. Maybe I didn’t use enough sweetener? 🤔
Easy and fun to make! I made a mess but who cares, it was worth it! 😂
Mine turned a bit icy last time. Any tip—should we add more khoya or sugar to prevent ice? Otherwise this looks great!
5 stars, period.
So good!!! 😋 I used condensed milk instead of sugar and it was super sweet! Can’t stop eating it.
But isn’t it too sweet with all that condensed milk? I think regular sugar is better. 🤔
That sounds delicious! I love the idea of using condensed milk. I’ll have to try it that way next time. 😍
This sounds super rich and creamy—kesar pista kulfi is my weakness 😍 I’ll try it exactly with the 5-hour/overnight freeze.