Faloodeh
Faloodeh is considered by many food historians to be one of the oldest documented frozen desserts in the world, with origins dating back to ancient Persia, over 2000 years ago. The ancient Persians had perfected an ingenious method of preserving mountain snow in insulated pits called yakhchal, using it to chill syrups and desserts long before the invention of modern refrigeration. The city of Shiraz is considered the birthplace of modern faloodeh and remains the most renowned center for this dessert, where the traditional recipe is passed down through generations almost unchanged. Faloodeh differs fundamentally from Western ice cream in its texture — it's not creamy but granular, with thin noodles that offer a unique chewing sensation, completely different from any other frozen dessert.
Frozen sorbet
Considered one of the oldest frozen desserts in the world.
Thin starch noodles
Fine rice starch strands, with an elastic-crunchy texture.
Rosewater syrup
Scented with rosewater and lemon juice.
Served with sour cherries
Often served with sour cherry syrup or lime juice.
Ingredients 4 servings
- 150g thin rice starch vermicelli
- 300g sugar
- 500ml water
- 3 tbsp rosewater
- Juice of 2 lemons
- Sour cherry syrup for serving (optional)
How to make it
- 1MAKE SYRUP: Boil the sugar with water over medium heat until fully dissolved, forming a simple syrup.
- 2COOL SYRUP: Let the syrup cool, then add the rosewater and lemon juice.
- 3BOIL NOODLES: Boil the starch noodles in boiling water for 2-3 minutes, just until translucent, then drain and rinse with cold water.
- 4COMBINE: Mix the cooled noodles with the rosewater syrup, making sure it's evenly distributed.
- 5FREEZE: Pour the mixture into a flat tray and freeze, stirring with a fork every 30 minutes for 3 hours, for a granular sorbet-like texture.
- 6CHECK TEXTURE: Faloodeh is ready when it has a crushed-ice consistency, not a solid block.
- 7SERVE: Serve immediately in cold bowls, with sour cherry syrup poured on top.
Nutritional info
per serving (~350 g)
Estimated nutritional values.
Pairs perfectly with
