SAEDNEWS: Maqut ice cream is an incredibly smooth and delicious dessert with a flavor that falls somewhere between pudding and traditional ice cream.
According to SAEDNEWS, Desserts are among the most beloved and diverse foods around the world. Among them, saffron desserts stand out for their unique aroma and flavor, making them especially delightful and popular. Desserts are typically served after meals, as their sweetness can aid digestion. Some desserts, with their light and delicate texture, are especially suitable for Ramadan Iftar or for those who are fasting.
One such dessert is Saffron Ice Cream Maqut, a smooth and flavorful treat that combines the traditional taste of saffron and rosewater with the pleasure of ice cream. It’s also perfect for Iftar. If you’d like to prepare this dessert easily at home, here’s a step-by-step guide.
Milk: 2 cups
Sugar: ⅓ cup
Cup ice cream: 1
Cornstarch: 2 tablespoons
Gelatin powder: 2 tablespoons
Breakfast cream: 2 tablespoons
Strong brewed saffron: 4 tablespoons
Rosewater: ¼ cup
Cold water: ½ cup
Pistachio slivers for garnish: as needed
Step 1: Start by mixing gelatin powder with cold water. Place over steam (double boiler method) until fully dissolved and clear. Put the ice cream in a suitable bowl and place it over steam until smooth and slightly melted. Set aside. Whip the breakfast cream in a separate bowl until it reaches room temperature and is pourable.
Step 2: In a saucepan, combine cornstarch, milk, and sugar, stirring until dissolved. Place over low heat and stir continuously until it thickens. Add the saffron and rosewater, then stir in the melted gelatin and ice cream. Mix well.
Step 3: Allow the dessert to simmer for another 5 minutes, then add the room-temperature cream and stir until fully combined. Pour the mixture into a serving dish and let it cool. Once cooled, garnish with pistachio slivers. The dessert is now ready to enjoy.
Cornstarch is white and has a soft texture. Rubbing it between your fingers produces a slight squeak. It’s commonly used in desserts and dishes to provide thickness. Note that wheat starch is different and cannot be substituted for cornstarch. Cornstarch is available in hygienic packaging at specialty baking stores.
Rosewater is a fragrant extract of the Damask rose, with the best quality produced in Kashan and Meymand, Fars. Many commercially available bottles are not pure and lack the authentic aroma of true rosewater. Genuine rosewater is clear, light, and slightly bitter, without a sour or off smell. Check these qualities when purchasing.
Always use strong brewed saffron. Over-diluting saffron reduces its color, requiring more to achieve the desired intensity. To brew saffron: grind it finely without sugar, add 1 teaspoon of saffron to 2 tablespoons of boiling water and 2 ice cubes. The ice provides a color-enhancing shock. Store brewed saffron in a sealed container in the freezer, and allow it to thaw to room temperature before use. Genuine saffron is not shiny and releases oil when pressed between fingers—shiny saffron is often fake.
