Paan Ice Cream

Paan or betel leaf ice cream is one flavor which you must absolutely try if you love paan. This is one flavor which made my guests go crazy, this creamy delicious ice cream served with some coated fennel seeds, gulkand preserve (dried rose petal preserve) and some rose syrup is sure to make everyone fall in love with you. Perfect party dessert!!

So I was the birthday girl on 4^th of September and VK was away on his business trip to USA for almost a month and for me life without him was pretty to boring, I spent my day with kids watching movie followed by some good lunch. It seemed like a pretty ordinary day without him. Then he planned this party to celebrate my birthday, he wanted me to do nothing and get the food from outside, the Chef inside me can never agree to that. My love affair with food is one thing very well known and it is one thing which is very close to my heart. Guest list done, menu almost finalized so I was all set for marathon cooking session. I planned to cook kebabs, Chicken fajitas, pasta, biryani oh so much of mouthwatering food.

Let me share the menu with you:

Appetizers

1)Middle Eastern Chicken Kebabs

2)Reshmi Paneer Tikka

3)Cottage Cheese stuffed Baked potatoes

4)Bruschetta with cream cheese, segmented oranges and chocolate shavings

5)Mini Chicken fajitas

Mains

1)Chicken Dum Biryani

2)Walnut and grapes raita

3)Pasta in Tomato Cream Sauce for kids Desserts

1)Vanilla Cheesecake with salted caramel sauce

2)Paan Ice cream

I always wanted to make ice cream at home but would never try making one at home. But this time I gave into my desire of making ice cream. The flavor which I choose was paan as we Indians love our paan after meals. I am super happy that I chose this particular flavor and using this in making my delicious and creamy ice cream and that too without and ice cream maker.

Paan or Betel leaf is common sight and can be found very easily in every locality. There are variations of paans available from plain to sweet, easily customizable according to ones preference. I love my paan sweet with gulkand, supari, saunf and some spices wrapped in a silver vark and topped with cherry. Enjoying my paan right now as I am writing this post. Imagine this widely loved flavor in an ice cream, these flavors literally made my guest licking their bowls J. Let me share a secret with you today…..have you seen anybody who does not eat ice cream, well I am one of them. Don’t be surprised but this is the fact I don’t like anything sweet made with milk.

The other dessert that I had made was a classic Vanilla Cheesecake with salted caramel sauce. Rich and creamy cheesecake with buttery cracker crust and topped with salted caramel. This dessert was the star of the evening and won all hearts. And you I received many compliments for the same….infact my guests kept on telling me “why don’t you open a dessert bar”. I am overwhelmed, have some plans even who knows one day.

Now coming back to my ice cream, served it with some gulkand preserve (Dried rose petal preserve), coated fennel seeds, some rose syrup and canned cherries. Made it like a DIY dessert…allowing my guest to build their own ice cream bowls which they simply loved. Happy guest = a very happy me!!

The recipe of ice cream has been adapted from none other than Tarla Dalal.

Now sharing the recipe:

For the ice cream base

·1 liter full fat milk

·300 grams fresh cream

·1 1/ cup sugar

·¼ cup cornflour

For the paan flavoring

·6 betel leaves

· 3 dates very finely chopped

·1.5 tbsp fennel seed powder

·½ tsp green elachi powder

·¼ cup gulkand

·1 tbsp lemon juice

For the garnish

·Gulkand

·Rose syrup

·Coated fennel seeds

· Dried Rose Petals

Method

1)For the ice cream base – Take ¼ cup of cold milk and dissolve cornflour. Keep aside

2)Take a heavy bottomed pan and boil the rest of the whole fat milk, once it starts to boil add sugar and simmer for about 5 mintutes.

3)Next add the cornflour – milk mixture prepared earlier. Allow to simmer for another 5 mintues stirring continuously until the mixture begins to thicken and it starts to coat the back of spoon. Remove from fire and allow to cool completely.

4)Now as the milk is cooling lets make our paan flavor. Wash the betel leaves thoroughly. Roughly tear them, add the a mixer along with lemon juice and grind to a fine paste. Strain and keep aside.

5)Next chop the dates fine. Mix together paan juice, cardamom and fennel powder, chopped dates and gulkand.

6)For the ice cream – Once the milk mixture is cool completely, refrigerate till cold. While the milk is cooling put your beaters and bowl in freezer. Next beat the cream till soft peaks form. Add the paan flavoring and the cooled milk mixture to the cream and mix well.

7)Pour it into a airtight freezer proof container and freeze for an hour. Remove and whisk well again.

8)Put it back in the freezer until set for 6 -8 hours or best overnight.

9)Serve with coated fennel seeds, gulkand and rose syrup.

10)Sit back and enjoy the praise that you receive.

Thank you