Strawberry Kulfi
Apr 17, 2015, Updated Apr 26, 2018
Instant Strawberry Kulfi - creamy, delicious and packed with strawberry flavor!
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I go crazy during this time of the year for berries. They are available in abundance and so delicious. I swear I want to buy all the big boxes in the grocery stores. But considering how much I waste stuff [:(] I am really trying hard to buy only what I need. Did I need this big box of strawberries from Cosctco? No. Am I glad I got it? YES YES! Because I got to made this delicious and creamy Strawberry Kulfi!
Slurp!
Kulfi is Indian ice cream, hugely popular back home. It is made by cooking the milk till it’s really thick and then adding sugar, saffron, cardamom and nuts to it. This recipe for strawberry kulfi is an instant one, you don’t need to cook anything!
I would like to mention here that I am a fan of traditional kulfi, I actually never like taking short cuts when it comes to cooking until and unless it’s really required. Growing up in India, we didn’t get any frozen or packed products, so for example  if we had to make chickpeas or beans, we will always soak the raw ones overnight and then cook it the next day. And because I grew up watching this, I practice the same. Package products still aren’t a thing in India, nor is frozen food. Same way if you want to make kulfi, you cook the milk till it thickens which can take hours.
I do believe that the traditional way of making kulfi is the best but this week I had this sudden craving of kulfi. I didn’t feel going through the long process and since I had all the ingredients for an instant version, I decided to go ahead with it. The strawberries came into the picture because I got a huge box from Costco and I thought it will be fun to a try a new fruity flavored kulfi.
For this instant strawberry kulfi I used evaporated milk, condensed milk and heavy cream. These three milk products give the kulfi it’s desired creaminess and thickness. I also used some strawberry essence since I thought the puree wasn’t enough to give me that desired strawberry aroma. Kulfi is usually served over a popsicle/lollipop stick like in the picture below but you can freeze in any mold of your choice.
Please use a lot of cardamom in this recipe. I know 12 green cardamom pods seems like a big number, at first I added only half of it. But because the strawberry flavor was so overpowering I wasn’t able to taste/smell cardamom at all. So I crushed seeds from 6 more cardamom pods and voila it was perfect! So taste the mixture before you freeze it. After all what’s a kulfi without cardamom?
Method
Empty a 12 oz can of evaporated milk in a large bowl. Microwave it for a minute and then add to it a 14 oz can of condensed milk. Mix well.
Next add heavy cream.
Mix till everything is well combined. Set aside.
Take strawberries and remove their stalk. Pulse in a blender with 3 tablespoons sugar to a smooth puree. Adding sugar here is optional, my strawberries weren’t really sweet so I added in some sugar.
Strain the mixture into a small bowl.
Mix the strained strawberry puree with the milk mixture.
Add the strawberry essence, pink food color [if using] and crushed cardamom seeds. Mix till everything is well combined.
Pour the mixture into kulfi molds or any mold of your choice.
Cover with aluminium foil and insert a popsicle stick. Freeze overnight or till firm.
To unmold simply put the mold under running tap water for 45 seconds and pull gently. The kulfi comes out easily.
Garnish with chopped pistachios and enjoy!
* You may need more or less cardamom pods. I used more than 12 to get to the desired flavor. Add 6-7 at first and then taste and add more.
* The prep time includes the freezing time. The actual prep time is only 15 minutes, 6 hours is what it takes to freeze completely.
* If you don’t have fresh strawberries and want to make this, you can add any strawberry flavored syrup into the milk base.
Strawberry Kulfi
Ingredients
- 1 can evaporated milk 12 oz
- 1 can condensed milk 14 oz
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1.5 cups fresh strawberry puree from around 30-35 big strawberries
- 3 tablespoons granulated white sugar optional, only if strawberries aren't sweet enough]
- 12 green cardamom pods seeds crushed using a mortar and pestle
- 3/4 teaspoon strawberry extract
- pink food color optional
Instructions
- Empty a 12 oz can of evaporated milk in a large bowl. Microwave it for a minute and then add to it a 14 oz can of condensed milk. Mix well.
- Next add heavy cream and mix till everything is well combined. Set aside.
- Take strawberries and remove their stalk. Pulse in a blender with 3 tablespoons sugar to a smooth puree. Adding sugar here is optional, my strawberries weren't really sweet so I added in some sugar.
- Strain the mixture into a small bowl.
- Mix the strained strawberry puree with the milk mixture.
- Add the strawberry essence, pink food color [if using], kesar-elaichi essence [optional] and crushed cardamom seeds. Mix till everything is well combined.
- Pour the mixture into kulfi molds or any mold of your choice.
- Cover with aluminium foil and insert a popsicle stick. Freeze overnight or till firm.
- To unmold simply put the mold under running tap water for 45 seconds and pull gently. The kulfi comes out easily.
- Garnish with chopped pistachios and enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
 Strawberry Kulfi
Could you please post a recipe for butterscotch kulfi..
will try
This recipe is making my mouth water just reading it! You are an amazing chef, I know from making ice cream/ sorbet of all types, that it’s easy to mix things together and freeze, BUT to make a beautiful kulfi, sorbet etc is a real skill. Your recipes are amazing. Thank-you soooo very much Manali.love them all x
You are welcome Julie! So glad you like my recipes!
I have bought an over abundance of strawberries too but I am thinking that was rather lucky considering how much I want to make this ice cream! Looks so yummy!!!!
Thanks Mariah! 🙂
I just love your blog, Manali! I always get such an education and it’s awesome. This is the first I’ve heard of kulfi and it looks delicious!
Rachelle, you are so sweet! Thank you so much! 🙂
This seriously looks SO amazing! I’ve never tried kulfi before, but anything strawberry has my name written all over it. I’ve gotta try this asap. 😉
Thanks Sarah! I am sure you will love kulfi!
I’m not familiar with kulfi, but I do know that I love ice cream! I just made a strawberry ice cream over the weekend, so I can totally appreciate how awesome this looks right now. I’m also really intrigued by the cardamom…I wouldn’t have thought about adding cardamom to strawberries, but I can see how it would totally work! This is perfect for the warm summer days ahead. Pinned!
Kulfi’s texture is little different from ice creams David, it’s granier. But it’s so delicious, I would go for Kulfi over ice creams any day..well that’s the Indian in me speaking I guess..haha! Thanks for the pin!
Manali this looks so creamy and I am loving this quick version!!
Thanks Ami! Yeah quick is good sometimes 😉
This looks so creamy and delicious! I can imagine the real deal would be SO good but I’m glad this version is available for those sudden urges 🙂
Thanks Ashley, yes the real deal is definitely the best but this is also quite good for those sudden cravings!
o yes, best time for berries. Your strawberry ice cream looks so creamy and scrumptious.
Thanks Angie!
Such a easy kulfi,Can make this in no time..Sure is needed for this summer.Pinned it.
Thanks Sathya, glad you like!
So gorgeous Manali! Love this kulfi! And I’m happy there are no eggs, since I’ve had some issues with custard based ice cream lately 🙂 And that huge box with strawberries at Costco is my best friend 🙂
Ooo that’s awful, you mean allergic reaction? I always make my ice creams eggless since in India ice cream are always eggless so I kind of grew up with that thought process. Thanks Mira!
Oh my goodness Manali!! I love Kulfi. I didn’t know you could make it at home. I am so excited. Yay!! This looks gorgeous and delicious! Can’t wait to try it! 😉
I hope you do give it a try! Thanks Cyndi! 🙂
ha!!! I came home with the same huge container of strawberries from Costco. . two of them!!! love this Indian ice cream! looks so good!!!
Haha 2! wow hoping to see lot of strawberry recipes from you Alice!
Love berry season and I can’t get enough lately either! This ice cream looks incredible! I love the pretty color and the cardamom sounds delicious in here!
Thanks Kelly! 🙂
That looks delicious Manali! Love strawberry anything this time of year, I definitely always get the biggest box possible!
ha! me too! Thanks Stacey!
Very delicious looking Kulfi, Manali! Yum! Seriously! I can have at-least two of them right now 🙂
Thanks Savita! Come over, you can have more than two!
I have been going nuts for berries too – and Costco has such amazing deals on them! This kulfi sounds so decadent – love the cardamom and berry combo – gorgeous and mouthwatering!
I know, it’s hard to resist these deals at Costco! Thanks Shashi!
Slurp is right!! Oh my! I’m sure it tastes as good as it looks! Loving it! Pinned!!
Thanks Annie! It sure was delicious!
This ice cream looks incredible, Manali. I just bought a whole bunch of strawberries too! Pinning!
Thanks Jen!
Wow – I am impressed – this is gorgeous looking ice cream Manali, and I adore strawberries, so this is right up my alley. Love it! Pinned.
Thanks Kristi! Love strawberries too 🙂
I always buy tons of berries this time of year, too. They’re just so fresh! This ice cream looks gorgeous! Love the strawberry flavor!
Thanks Gayle!