A creamy, velvety Middle Eastern milk pudding that captures the essence of tradition and family gatherings.
Author:info-lunarecipezgmail-com
Prep Time:10 minutes
Cook Time:15 minutes
Total Time:265 minutes
Yield:6 servings 1x
Category:Dessert
Method:Chilling
Cuisine:Middle Eastern
Diet:Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
500 ml fresh whole milk
500 ml evaporated milk
150 g white sugar
5 Tbsp cornflour
1 Tbsp rose water or orange water
¼ tsp ground cardamom
Slivered/crushed pistachios or toasted almonds (for garnish)
2 Tbsp rose syrup (diluted in 2 Tbsp water, optional)
Instructions
Prepare Cornflour Paste: In a small bowl, make a paste with the cornflour and about 3 Tbsp of the fresh milk, ensuring it’s smooth and free of lumps.
Combine Ingredients: Combine this cornflour paste, both types of milk, and the sugar in a heavy-based saucepan. Stir well to mix all the ingredients together seamlessly.
Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring regularly to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pan. Avoid whisking to keep the texture smooth.
After about 5 minutes of simmering, the mixture will start to thicken. Keep stirring; you’ll notice the transformation unfolding!
Lower the heat to medium-low and continue to cook and stir for another 5 minutes. The mixture should now resemble a thick custard, rich and inviting.
Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the rose or orange water and the ground cardamom. Take a moment to breathe in those delightful aromas!
Carefully pour the mixture into serving dishes or cups. Cover with plastic wrap to keep out any unwanted smells and dryness, then place in the refrigerator to cool for at least 4 hours, or ideally overnight.
When ready to serve, drizzle the diluted rose syrup over each serving and generously sprinkle with slivered pistachios or toasted almonds. The finishing touches elevate this dessert to pure decadence.
Notes
Store leftover mahalabia in the refrigerator for up to four days. If you notice any separation, give it a gentle stir before serving again.