World Flavors Cookbook

Bastani Sonnati

Traditional Iranian ice cream, a luxuriously creamy frozen treat flavored with saffron, rosewater, and pistachios - often layered with thin bread called "lavashak."

Cuisine: Iran

Ingredients

• 1 liter whole milk
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1/2 tsp saffron threads, dissolved
• 2 tbsp rosewater
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup pistachios, crushed
• 2 egg yolks

Instructions

1. Mix cornstarch with a little cold milk to make a paste.
2. Heat remaining milk with sugar until it begins to simmer.
3. Add the cornstarch paste and stir until thickened.
4. Whisk egg yolks and slowly add to the hot mixture.
5. Remove from heat, add saffron, rosewater, and cream.
6. Chill thoroughly, then freeze, stirring every 30 minutes.
7. Fold in crushed pistachios before serving.