One of the best things about making Falooda at home is the customization. I find immense joy in tweaking the recipe to suit my taste buds. Whether it’s dialling up the rose syrup for a sweeter touch or switching the vanilla ice cream with a scoop of strawberry for a fruity twist, the possibilities are endless.

Mixed Dry Fruits like Almonds, Cashews, Pistachios and Raisins are used. Other dry fruits like apricots or dates can be also be used depending on the availability and preference. Interestingly, it started as a simple noodle dessert called “Faloodeh,” served to the royals as a way to combat the desert heat. But they have been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of a variety of illnesses. Also known in certain cultures as a digestive aid and supposed to have diuretic, antispasmodic and antipyretic properties. You can use any available flavors of ice creams to make the royal falooda. Generally, colorful scoops of ice creams make the dessert look contrasting, hence three or more different ice cream flavors.Most falooda recipes online show you how to make the drink with falooda syrup OR with sharbat syrup. Falooda made with sharbat syrup misses a core part of the flavor of the authentic milkshake, and simply tastes like rose water +milk. Plus, store-bought falooda syrup has ingredients that have no business being in a kid’s drink. Today, I bring you a tale of an exceptional dessert beverage, a narrative of a recipe that travelled continents and centuries to land on your plate – the story of Falooda. This decadent delight, which we now enjoy in myriad forms across the globe, has its roots deeply embedded in the Persian Empire.

Cornstarch: It is used for making falooda sev which is one of the main ingredients of this recipe. These sev are thin, long noodles made from cornstarch. To make faluda sev or vermicelli noodles, you will need a mix of cornstarch and water. Falooda sev is also available at Asian grocery stores worldwide. If you do not want to make noodles at home, then you can also use store-bought falooda sev for making this falooda. That also works perfectly fine in this recipe. Vegan Falooda: To make a vegan version of falooda, use plant based or vegan milk such as almond milk, coconut milk or oat milk. Also, use vegan ice cream. Falooda was also a part of our festive traditions. Be it birthdays, anniversaries, or festivals, it was always on the dessert menu. Make a falooda-flavored smoothie if you're on the go. If you love falooda but don't have time to layer the ingredients, simply toss them in the blender and pulse a few times to get a smoothie. Pour the smoothie into a bottle and you now have a portable falooda drink. You can even add ice cubes to the blender to give the smoothie a slushier texture without affecting the taste. [8] X Research sourceTraditionally a Falooda is prepared with a combination of different stuff – from cooked vermicelli to fruit/rose syrup, flavored milk, sweet basil seeds, jelly and finished off with a big dollop of ice cream. Once all the ingredients are in place, all it takes is a few minutes to assemble this delicious dessert. When it comes to festivals and special occasions, Falooda shines as a star dessert. Its luxurious texture and captivating flavours make it an instant hit among guests. Plus, it’s a dish that brings people together, bridging the gap between different food preferences. Garnish before serving, if desired. The falooda is ready to drink at this point. If you wish, you can add a handful of chopped pistachios and rose petals to the top of the drink as a garnish, though this is not needed. [6] X Research source Use sweetened milk: Make sure to use sweetened milk to the faluda recipe. You can either make rabri like I did, or simply use sweetened chilled milk. For an indulgent dessert taste and creamy texture, it is best to use full-fat or full cream milk.