This dessert, called Falooda, is something I literally love from the bottom of my heart. It’s a family favorite and a very popular dessert in South Asia. You’ll find this cool treat in almost every restaurant. But do you know it can be made at home super easily? And the best part is you get to customize the ingredients, toppings, and decoration just the way you like!
Summer is coming, and you need a refreshing drink. Try this easy Falooda recipe, and you will see how simple it is to make. Once you do, you might just forget about buying it from restaurants! So, let’s not waste any more time, go ahead and make this magical sweet treat for yourself and your loving family!
What Is Falooda?
Falooda is a delicious and refreshing dessert drink that comes from South Asian cuisine. It is a popular treat in countries like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. People especially love this during hot weather and festive occasions. This dessert is made by layering ingredients like basil seeds, tapioca pearls, boiled noodles, jelly, custard, and fruits, all soaked in chilled flavored milk.
It is then topped with a scoop of ice cream and garnished with nuts or pomegranate. Falooda has roots in Persian cuisine and has evolved into many regional variations. Loved for its mix of textures and flavors, it is a perfect blend of creamy, chewy, and jelly-like ingredients, making every sip delightful!
How to Make Falooda?
To make this delicious homemade Falooda, first prepare the jello by dissolving the mix in boiling water, then let it set in the fridge. Meanwhile, cook the tapioca pearls until they turn transparent, adding food coloring if you like for the vibrant color. Then, boil the noodles separately and set them aside. Next, make a smooth and creamy custard by cooking milk, custard powder, sugar, and salt until it thickens, then chill it for 2 hours.
Once everything is ready, cut the jello into cubes and start assembling! Layer tapioca pearls, soaked basil seeds, noodles, chilled custard milk, and fresh fruits in glasses. Add jello cubes, more custard, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and some pomegranate seeds. Decorate it however you like, and it’s all ready to enjoy!
Falooda Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1 packet strawberry-flavored jello mix (or your preferred flavor)
- 1/2 cup tapioca pearls
- 1/2 teaspoon red food color (optional)
- 1/2 cup noodles
- 2 cups milk
- 1 tablespoon custard powder
- 1/3 cup sugar
- A pinch of salt
- Soaked Basil Seeds (as needed)
- 1/2 cup mixed fruits (apple cubes, grape cubes, or any of your choice)
- Vanilla ice cream (as needed)
- Pomegranate seeds for garnish
Directions
Let’s start with the jello!
- In a pan, bring 1 cup of water to a boil.
- Then add 1 packet of jello mix; you can choose your favorite flavor. I am using strawberry jello mix.
- Mix the jello in the water and bring it to a boil. After boiling, transfer the mixture to a bowl and let it cool completely. Once cooled, place the bowl in the refrigerator for one hour.
- While the jello is setting, let’s prepare the other ingredients for the falooda. Boil water in a pan and add ½ cup of tapioca pearls. Boil the tapioca until it becomes transparent.
- Next, add about ½ teaspoon of red food coloring; this is optional. I use it for a vibrant color.
- When the tapioca is done, remove it from the stove and drain the water.
- Now take another pan, add water, and bring it to a boil. Then add ½ cup of noodles and boil them. Once boiled, drain the excess water from the noodles and set them aside.
- Now we’ll make the milk custard. To do this, take a pan and add 2 cups of milk, 1 tablespoon of custard powder, ⅓ cup of sugar, and a pinch of salt. Start cooking until the milk thickens.
- The milk has thickened perfectly. Now cool it completely, then refrigerate it for 2 hours.
- Next, take the jello out of the refrigerator and cut it into cubes.
- Now it’s time to assemble all the ingredients. Take two glasses and decorate them differently. Add tapioca to one glass and soaked basil seeds in the other. Next, add boiled noodles to both glasses, then pour the custard milk into each. Now add the fruits of your choice. I’m adding (apple cubes and grape cubes). Add tapioca to the glass with basil seeds.
- Then, add jello cubes to both glasses, followed by another layer of custard milk. Finally, top with vanilla ice cream and garnish with pomegranate.
- I have some extra, so I’m decorating another 2 glasses. You can decorate them however you like. Here, my royal falooda is all ready to enjoy.
What to Serve with Falooda
Falooda is already a treat on its own, but if you want to pair it with something, go for something light and crispy! Butter cookies or wafer biscuits go great with falooda because they add a little crunch to balance out the creamy and fruity flavors. Some people also like a bowl of nuts, such as almonds and pistachios, which complement the rich texture of falooda. If you’re a chocolate lover, a small piece of dark chocolate on the side can also be a great choice. Feel free to try your favorite, there are no limitations!
Chef’s Tips
- Adjust the sugar based on your taste
- You can use any ice cream or even kulfi for falooda. Great options include vanilla, mango, chocolate, pistachio, almond, cashew-raisin, strawberry, and butterscotch.
- Serve falooda immediately after assembling for the best texture and freshness.