Best Saffron Cardamom Ice Cream With Pistachios Recipes

SAFFRON ICE CREAM (BASTANI IRANI)

Steps:

• Grind the saffron with 1 tsp of sugar with a mortar and pestle. In a small bowl combine the saffron with the boiling water. Let steep for 10-15 minutes or while you prepare the other ingredients.
• In a medium saucepan, gently heat (on low) the whole milk, 1/4 cup of the cream, cardamom, salt and vanilla, until it steams/heats all the way through.
• While the milk mixture is heating up, whip the egg yolks and sugar in a glass measuring jar until pale and double in size. This should take about 5-6 minutes. You do not need a stand mixer for this just use a whisk and some elbow grease.
• Pour in about 1/4 cup of the milk mixture into the egg mixture and whisk. You want to temper the egg yolks so they do not curdle or cook. If the egg mixture is still thick add another 1/4 cup of the milk mixture. Mix and then pour the egg mixture into the saucepan with the milk mixture. Add the bloomed saffron, stir to combine.
• Using a wooden spoon or a spatula continue to stir the custard until it thickens. About 10 minutes (on low heat). The custard will coat the spoon or spatula when it has thickened enough. Remove from heat.
• In a large bowl place the remaining 1 cup of whipping cream. Place a sieve on top and strain the custard (to avoid any curdled bits). Stir in the rosewater and allow the mixture to cool to room temperature before placing in the fridge to cool for 8 hours or overnight.
• Churn the mixture according to the manufacturer's instructions. Add the toasted pistachios towards the last five minutes of churning. Transfer to a freezer-safe ice cream container and allow to freeze for at least 2 hours.
• Bring the ice cream out 10-15 minutes prior to serving so it softens up. Serve with more toasted pistachios or in a cone!

SAFFRON CARDAMOM ICE CREAM WITH PISTACHIOS

Steps:

• Combine the milk, cream, saffron and bring to a boil in a heavy saucepan .
• Remove pan from heat and let cream mixture stand, covered, for 1 hour.
• Return pan to the heat and bring mixture to just simering.
• In another bowl, whisk egg yolks, sugar and pinch of salt together.
• Add 1/2 cup of the cream mixture to the eggs & blend to temper them.
• After mixing, add the rest of the cream to the egg mix in a steady stream, whisking to blend well.
• Pour the entire mixture back into the pan.
• Cook this custard over moderate low heat, stirring until a thermometer reaches 170°F.
• Strain through a fine sieve into another bowl and stir in cardamom.
• Let custard cool completely and freeze in ice cream freezer according to manufacturer's recommendations.
• Add pistachios during last few minutes of freezing/churning time.

PISTACHIO, CARDAMOM AND SAFFRON COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a multi-cavity cookie tray (e.g. mini muffin tray, a muffin-top tray or a hemisphere pan) with the 1 tablespoon butter and set aside to chill.
• Combine the warm milk with the saffron threads, stir and set aside for 5 minutes until the saffron threads begin to bloom and the milk takes on a golden hue.
• Cream the remaining 1/2 cup butter with the granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl for 2 to 3 minutes until the butter is soft and the sugar has melted in. Add the crushed cardamom pods, finely chopped pistachios, the saffron milk with the saffron threads and a pinch of grated nutmeg if using and the pandanus water. Mix until well combined. Slowly add in the all-purpose flour and salt and mix well again. The mixture will be sandy in texture. Use a spatula to break up any lumps and stir it all until well combined and there are no dry spots.
• Portion the cookie mixture using an ice cream scoop and scoop it directly into the prepared chilled cookie tray. Lightly compress the mixture into the cavity using the back of a spoon. Fill each cavity to the top as these cookies will not rise. Chill any unused cookie mixture between bakes.
• Bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until the edges begin to lightly brown. The cookies do not change color or rise during baking. Carefully unmold from the cookie tray. Place them on a wire rack and allow them to cool completely before storing in an airtight container in a cool place until ready to decorate.
• To decorate: Arrange the cookies on a wire rack with a drip pan or cookie sheet underneath.
• Bring a few inches of water to a simmer in a medium saucepan. Place the melting white chocolate wafers in a heatproof bowl over the simmering water. The bottom of the bowl must not touch the water. Maintain a slow simmer and do not let the water boil. Using a silicone spatula, stir until the chocolate is melted. Quickly stir in one pinch of saffron threads while the chocolate is warm.
• Carefully pour the white chocolate over the cookies or dunk cookies into the chocolate. Alternatively, use a spoon to drizzle the melted chocolate over each cookie. Sprinkle the pistachio slivers, gold dust or sprinkles and more saffron threads before the chocolate hardens. Cool completely.
• Serve when the chocolate is firm.
• Store in a cool, airtight container for up to a week.

SAFFRON PISTACHIO BLONDIES

Steps:

• Make the bars: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper such that the paper spills out over the sides of the pan, like wings.
• In a food processor, pulse the pistachios until the nuts are very finely ground. Don't let them get pasty. Add the flour, salt, baking powder and cardamom and pulse to combine.
• In a large mixing bowl, whisk together melted butter and brown sugar until smooth and shiny. (The butter will separate at first, then blend in.) Whisk in the eggs until incorporated. Add the pistachio mixture and mix with a silicone spatula to combine. Gently stir in the white chocolate chips until evenly distributed. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread in an even layer.
• Bake until the sides are brown and pull away from the pan, and the middle is slightly paler in color, 25 to 27 minutes. A toothpick inserted in the center will come out with a few crumbs attached. Cool completely in the pan on a rack.
• While the bars cool, make the frosting: Finely grind the saffron threads in a mortar using a pestle or in a microwave-safe bowl using the back of a spoon. If needed, transfer the ground saffron to a microwave-safe bowl or to a small saucepan if you don't have a microwave. Stir in the milk, and microwave on high or heat over medium until the mixture is frothing around the edges but not boiling, about 30 seconds. Place the bowl in the refrigerator or freezer to quickly cool the mixture.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, use an electric hand or stand mixer or a heavy whisk or wooden spoon to beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth. If working by hand, this takes some muscle. Add the confectioners' sugar and salt and beat again until homogeneous and no clumps of sugar remain. Beat in the cooled saffron milk until well-combined. The frosting will turn a bright golden hue.
• Once the bars have cooled completely, scrape the frosting over the top, and use a spatula to spread it evenly. Crush or chop some pistachios for garnish and sprinkle all over the top. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before eating. The bars keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for 1 month.

BASTANI (PERSIAN ROSE WATER, SAFFRON AND PISTACHIO ICE CREAM)

Steps:

• In a medium thick-bottomed bot, slowly heat the milk to boiling while stirring. Add the vanilla extract and saffron. Continue to cook on low heat, stirring occasionally while doing the next step.
• Beat the egg yolks with the sugar until smooth and foamy. Very carefully and slowly, pour the egg/sugar mixture into the milk. Make sure to stir it rapidly with a fork or use a whisk while pouring (or you will end up with scrambled eggs in the ice cream!).
• Continue heating the mixture on low heat while stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until thickened (it should be foamy and coat the spoon).
• Pour the custard mixture into a bowl, and refrigerate until well chilled.
• Once cold, stir in the cream, rose water or extract, and chopped pistachios.
• Churn in an ice cream maker until finished (or, stick in the freezer and vigorously stir every 30 minutes or so to break up the ice crystals, until it is homogenous and frozen).

ROSE ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Add the saffron to the warm milk and set aside for 15 minutes.
• Combine the softened ice cream, saffron with milk, rose syrup, cardamom, and pistachios in a large bowl. Stir until the ice cream is smooth and pink in color. Scoop the ice cream back into the container and freeze 2 hours, or until ready to eat.