Kulfi: A Savoring Dessert That is Thousands of Years Old

So, you are fond of ice-creams and love savoring gelatos. But, did you know that long before ice-cream came into existence, we had Kulfi satiating the palates of lovers of frozen sweet dishes? In India, summers are just incomplete without Kulfis. This versatile dessert can be transformed into different tastes by changing the ingredients, which makes them taste nothing less than heavenly. Going back to its origin, it is believed that kulfi was first introduced in the 16th century. 

Key ingredients of kulfi recipe:

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Kulfi Recipe

If we talk about the key ingredients of kulfi recipe, milk, sugar and saffron and cardamom are the basics. You can further add different flavors to the same like rose, paan, pistachio, almond, etc. What we want to highlight here is that this delectable dessert tastes amazing and is available in different flavors to satiate the taste needs of people. 

Evolution of Kulfi:

As far the origin is concerned, we have already mentioned that kulfi originated in the 16th century and it was first introduced during the Mughal period. Kulfi is a Hindi word which means ice. In the earlier times, kulfi was prepared using the ice which was brought from the Himalayas. There is a mention about kulfi recipe and its preparation in the Ain-i-Akbari.

So, you see that this delectable dish is thousands of years old. Over a period of time, we have seen evolution in taste and procedure of making kulfi, but its popularity has only increased over time. 

Facts about kulfi:

1. Kulfi was first introduced in the 16th century during the Mughal period
2. Initially, it was prepared using ice that was brought from the Himalayan region
3. There are different varieties of kulfis available, but the most loved one is kulfi falooda. 
4. Some people also make use of khoya or mawa to fasten up the pace of making kulfi. 
5. The word kulfi comes from Persian word Qulfi which means covered cup
6. It originated in the Indian subcontinent
7. In the initial times, terracotta cups were used to make kulfi
8. The dessert is also popular in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Nepal, the Middle East, and Bangladesh.

Consuming one bar of kulfi adds up to 369 calories. So, before consuming it, you must take into account the calorie count. Also, the sugar content is also on the higher side, so people who are suffering from diabetes should eat kulfi in limited amounts.

You can easily find kulfi stalls across the streets in any part of the nation. This flavorsome dessert is loved by people of all age groups. However, its high calorie and sugar content are a matter of concern. But, sometimes it's okay to binge on this mouth-watering dessert.