Kulfi!

I had a craving…so I made some Kulfi last night! For those of you who have never heard of Kulfi before, here is a little background: Kulfi is an Indian frozen dessert, like ice cream but decidedly denser and creamier, bursting with the fragrance of cardamom and the green goodness of pistachios. It was one of my most favorite treats as a kid! (Adding to the overall delight, some places served it frozen in a little earthen jar or pot called a “matka”. Imagine eating ice-cream out of something that looks like a flower pot!)

My version is a little more ‘east meets further-to-the-east’, with Green Tea added. (My tea-drinking friends should like this one.) And, it is such a yummy treat for the summer time!

You will need:

1 can evaporated milk
1 can condensed milk
1 cup heavy cream
½ cup chopped pistachios
1 tsp ground cardamom
5 Green Tea bags

Bring evaporated milk to a simmer in a sauce pan over medium heat, it should be just warmed (bubbly around the edges). Empty contents of the tea bags into the pan, and add the ground cardamom. Whisk together, and remove from heat. Cover and let it sit for about 30 minutes, so the green tea can be fully infused. Strain evaporated milk and dump the soaked tea leaves – you won’t need these anymore. Whisk into the evaporated milk infusion, heavy cream, condensed milk, and chopped pistachios. Freeze for at least 6 hours, but it is best to freeze overnight – seriously, you can wait it out – in freezer-safe bowl (with lid or covered with plastic wrap), popsicle moulds, or ice-cube trays (covered with plastic wrap). Enjoy!

Notes:
1. With all that heavy cream and condensed milk, I know what you’re thinking…but, honestly, this is not the time to think about calories. Eat one serving, don’t eat another for about week and you’re fine!
2. Those of you who watch the newest food network star Aarti, will know that she uses Earl Grey tea in her kulfi, and there's nothing wrong with that, but mine is decidedly better!
3. If this recipe is simply too sweet for you, substitute half of the sweetened condensed milk for more evaporated milk, or whole milk.