A falooda is a great summer treat! It's an ice cream pepped up with syrup and basil seeds.
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What is Falooda?
Having probable roots in Persia and available in Middle Eastern and East Asian countries, Falooda is an Indian drinkable ice cream dessert that will certainly be the most refreshing way to enjoy your summer.
There are many ways to enjoy falooda — it can contain ice cream with syrup or even seeds. Falooda may also contain vermicelli noodles, depending upon which part of the world the recipe comes from.
Falooda is often paired with ‘rabri’, which is a popular Indian dessert made with sweet, condensed milk and garnished with sugar, spices, and nuts. This epic combination of rabri and falooda is very well-known in many parts of India and is a much-loved dessert in the country.
If you’re seeking a change of pace from the plain ol’ iced coffee and a quick, cool, effortless, summer ice cream beverage is on your mind, Falooda is a must-try!
Kids and adults are sure to enjoy this dessert with its inviting pink gradient from top to bottom with ice cream and seeds floating on the top.
This recipe will help you make homemade Falooda (without vermicelli noodles) from scratch using just four ingredients.
Ingredient Notes
- Milk — You can use cow milk or almond milk or oat milk.
- Ice-cream — They commonly use Vanilla Ice Cream or Butterscotch Ice Cream or plain flavored Kulfi in India.
- Syrup — Any red flavored syrup such as rose, raspberry, strawberry, pomegranate or cherry may be used for this recipe. Mango syrup may also be used for an orange-colored Falooda.
- Seeds — Sabja seeds (also known as Falooda seeds, basil seeds, or tukmaria seeds) are ideal for this recipe.
Holy basil seeds (also known as tulsi) may also be used but these are smaller than sabja seeds and may not be readily available.
The fun thing about Falooda is that when seeds are added, they blow up and develop a jelly-like texture, causing them to float on top.
You may choose to add vermicelli noodles to the Falooda in small quantities as well, depending upon preference.
Process Overview
Step 1
Place Ice cream in a tall glass.
Sprinkle half of the syrup and seeds over that.
Step 2
Fill up the glass with milk.
Step 3
Pour remaining syrup over the floating ice cream and sprinkle with some more seeds to garnish.
📖 Recipe
Falooda Ice Cream Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 scoops Ice Cream Vanilla, Butterscotch or Kulfi
- 1 cup Milk
- 1 Tablespoon Basil Seeds or Chia Seeds + extra for topping
- 2 Tablespoon Flavored Syrup Raspberry, cherry, strawberry, Rose
Instructions
- Place ice cream scoops in a tall glass.
- Sprinkle half of the syrup and all the seeds over the ice cream.
- Top up with milk. The ice cream will pop up and float.
- Pour some more syrup over the floating ice cream.
- Sprinkle with a few more seeds.
- Serve up immediately cold. Mix up and enjoy.
Notes
- One serving is about 12 fl oz/ 350 ml.
Nutrition
Serving
Falooda is best served straight away with a spoon and straw. It is always best to use sustainable straws which can be reused later.
If crunchy dessert is where your heart is, be sure to dress up your Falooda with pistachios, almonds, or crispy vermicelli as garnish.
Some additional syrup can also be sprinkled on top of the Falooda for better effect and stronger taste.
FAQs
Yes, but if too many ice-cubes are added, you risk diluting the Falooda and reducing its taste, so adding ice-cubes is not recommended. Falooda is usually thick, and ice cream is enough to cool it.
Sabja seeds (also called tukmaria or basil), holy basil seeds (also known as tulsi) or chia seeds may be used.
Falooda tastes fresh, cool, creamy with little jelly-like seeds on the tongue. The flavor is also heavily influenced by the syrup (rose syrup, mango syrup etc.) used.
This looks such a delicious regreshing
Healthy drink that I am just itching to try as soon as I have all the ingredients together. Another winner by Madalahetb, I think!
I think you will love it! Of course, you can adjust the amount of each ingredient to suit it more to your liking. 🙂
Hi Helene, I just happen ed to come across your site by chance. I was looking for a good recipe for Tendli veg. Thanks for all the knowledge you shared. Some people don't eat this veg saying that there is nothing we get from this veg. I stopped eating it. But now I shall definitely eat it.
I was not aware that sabza seeds were Basil seeds. I often wondered what were Basil seeds because I have been reading g about them in various recipes. Your photos of the Falooda is really appetising. I feel like having a glass of falooda right way after seeing the photograph in your site. Thanks for the site started by you called masalaherb.com. I am going to subscribe right away. Also add these seeds in a fresh watermelon juice it looks so good. Basil seeds are very cooling for the body. On a hot summer day whenever I return from the hot sun I add some of these seeds, which are already prepared in the mornings, in a glass of water and drink down the whole contents. I love Basil seeds.
In our childhood we drink water / milk with tukmariya ..I love this drink
Those basil seeds are really interesting, and sound wonderful! This Falooda sounds delicious!!! Hugs, Terra
yep basil seeds! =) cool right? 😉
I just got some basil seeds as well -- Love falooda and thanks for sharing this simple recipe with beautiful photos 🙂
I love basil seeds! I wished more people liked them but you're right, the fact that they look like frog spawn is probably enough to put a lot of people off...
I think so its not that people wouldnt like them, ... they are fairly unknown. All these while I didnt know of their existence. They just have to be introduced and I for one would love to create some recipes to incorporate them more into my diet.
VERY interesting drink, Helene! See, this kind of drink doesn't get here and I never be able to try unless we have ingredients and great recipe like yours!
I thought the same thing when 2 girls from San Francisco visited our restaurant some years ago. they told us about a fruit from the amazons called Acai and that it was so popular in the US and of course I went to check online for options to get that, but there was no way of transporting the gel in small amounts to india! lol
Every place in the world has something unique, localy grown. one has to only discover those little wonders. =)
I grew up having falooda. One of my favorite drinks. It is really refreshing and so easy to make. Love the basil seeds in it, tastes so good.
This falooda looks yummy!
What an interesting, refreshing looking drink, Helene. And how cute that you got the idea from an eleven year old! I love learning about different ingredients and method is certainly unusual to be. I will need to try it with the basil seeds I plan on planting soon:)
How wonderful for you to have a garden. Like your garden you have grown and that is a good thing. Keep those socks as a reminder:)
Thank you so much for sharing...
Ahh there are not many sock pairs left what I remember. Maybe 2 without holes. Surely over used them. Try it out with the basil seeds and let me know what u think. =)
Wonderful! This drink is soooo appealing. I want to try it.
cheers,
Rosa
The timing on this is so funny - just a few weeks ago some foodie friends and I visited a town in Israel with a fairly large Indian population. Two of my friends bought basil seeds, not entirely knowing what they were. My friend Sarah just posted about discovering falooda: http://www.sarahmelamed.com/2012/03/discovering-falooda/. Anyway, great post! Now that I can get basil seeds I will have to try it.
Helene, it looks extraordinary and so refreshing! The colours are breathtaking! I wish I could have one now!
You might not believe me, but I actually have a package of these seeds at home. I bought them about two years ago in an Asian shop and the shop owner (I think he was Vietnamese) told me it was put into water and a gelatinous, gluey drink was made. I have never made it and it's forgotten in my kitchen cupboard. Thank you for reminding me of the grains and for the wonderful recipe idea!
Always happy to help sissi! ^.^ At least you ll know what to do with those now. maybe we can work out some creative ideas. 😉
Oh my gosh Helene, I would never have thought to use basil seeds in this way. I only ever sow the seeds for the herb. Do they have a taste? Beautiful photograph. Have a lovely weekend.
hmm I dont think so they have an actual taste, I didnt taste much at least. They r more useful for cooking effects because of their jellyness and the crisp seed core.
Excellent series and very informative as well.
Wow, I've learned so much from your post! This drink looks fabulous...and I'm curious about the flavor imparted by the basil seeds...must be lovely!
I don't know how I wasn't following on FB, etc., but now I am. I just g+ and stumbled for you, and I love, love always to come here and read your amazing posts!
thank u courtney! =)
Oh, you've just taken me back to my childhood! I used to love this "frog spawn" in our version of milk and rose syrup. I like your version better 🙂 Don't know why we've never thought of adding ice cream to it before.
I LOVE basil seeds. I used to drink them when I had sore throat growing up!
Your photos are getting so good! This drink sounds fabulous and its so pretty!
I never cooked or used basil seeds in cooking or in drinks! This is very interesting and i am curious to give a try 🙂
That looks like a wonderful cool drink--I've never seen these basil seeds. Are they anything like the chia seeds that are so in vogue right now?
Chia and basil seeds are from the same plant family, the mint family. Chia grows mostly in middle/South america while basil in asia originated. Basil Seeds do have Ayurvedic properties, the whole plant is considered sacred in india.
I would've never thought to add basil seeds to this drink. But this looks absolutely delicious and wonderful. Great recipe
I adore basil seeds This looks droolworthy!
This is so interesting and exotic. Thanks for teaching me something new!
I love basil seeds. In Thailand those little things flating in icy dessert is such a real treat 🙂
Tes
http://tesathome.com
Oooh! I love this a lot, just the look of it makes me feel so refreshing.
Hi Helene, very refreshing drink. lovely presentation too. Have a nice weekend.
This looks absolutely yummy..I should try this soon...Bookmarking this one..
Aarthi
http://www.yummytummyaarthi.com/
"Those home production socks were maybe a bit scratchy..." LOL,that does remind me of my past,rather childhood,and the scratchy homemade pullovers I used to get once in a while.A take on Falooda,one of my favorite drinks with strawberry parfait and raspberry syrup - Interesting!
Fantastic Helene. You impress me each time by telling me stuff about Indian cuisine and ingredients that I have never known before. Love the falooda pic and it looks yummy!!
This looks like such a delicious drink! Very eye-catching!