A PERSIAN SWEET TREAT

Want to make one of the world’s oldest frozen desserts?
Faloodeh is a sweet icy treat dating back to around 400 B.C.E. Legend has it that it may even be the first frozen dessert ever invented. And it’s still enjoyed today! You can find it in ice cream shops around Iran, especially in the summer.

For this ancient dessert, you’ll need some rose water, rice noodles, and ice.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups water
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons rose water
  • 2 ounces thin rice noodles

Tools

  • Saucepan
  • Strainer
  • Kitchen scissors
  • Glass or metal dish

Directions

1. Combine water, sugar, and salt in a saucepan.

2. Cook the mixture over medium heat until itʼs gently simmering. Reduce the heat and stir until sugar has dissolved.

3. Remove the mixture from heat. Add lime juice and rose water.

4. Pour the mixture into a glass or metal dish and place it in the freezer for 30 minutes.

5. Cook the rice noodles until theyʼre tender but still a bit firm.

 6. Strain the noodles through a
strainer, and then rinse them with cold water. Leave them in
the strainer to dry.

7. Use kitchen scissors to cut
the noodles into 1-inch pieces.

8. Remove the rose water mixture from the freezer, and add the noodles to the dish. Mix everything, then place the dish back in the freezer for one hour.

9. You’re almost there! Remove the dish from the freezer. Use a fork to scrape the frozen parts from the sides of the dish and mix them toward the center. Place the dish back in the freezer for another hour.

10. Repeat the last step, scraping the frozen parts from the dish.

11. Serve your frozen treat in a bowl and add some toppings, such as pistachios or fruit syrup. Delicious!