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Friday, 21 October 2011

carrot ice cream / carrot kulfi

It's funny how things change. I never understood the appeal of carrot milk when I lived in Malaysia. My cousin loved it, and would often order it at cafes and mamak stalls. I'd try it and be all, "I don't know, it's still kinda weird to me..." And she'd be taken aback - "Really?! It's so nice and refreshing!"

I could never understand it... but one spring afternoon in Melbourne, I finally did. As you may have guessed, it's not something I would normally make for myself, but I was experimenting with a carrot-flavoured milk recipe for research and work purposes (outside of my full-time job, I freelance as a recipe developer) so it was all in the name of professional shenanigans.

Now, I don't know whether it was because my tastes have changed... or if the ingredients I used were better in quality... or if my version of carrot milk was simply more suited to my palate. Whatever it was, I liked it. After all this time, I finally understood what my cousin was on about: it was so nice and refreshing!

My new-found friendship with carrot milk got my brain ticking, it did. Not surprisingly, it didn't take long for me to take the leap from carrot milk... to carrot ice cream. A little bit sweeter. A tiny bit more decadent. And much, much colder.

yellow-orange kulfi-inspired carrot popsicles.

carrot ice cream / carrot kulfi

200ml pure cream, approx. 45% milk fat* (4/5 cup)
2 medium carrots (200g or just under 1/2 lb), peeled and chopped
200ml water
100g raw sugar (just under 1/4 lb or 1/2 cup)
a pinch of salt

Blend carrots with water. Filter the juice through a sieve/strainer. Reserve both the carrot juice and the carrot pulp.
In a saucepan, simmer together carrot pulp, raw sugar and salt until carrots are soft and no longer gritty**, stirring and adding a little water if necessary to keep it from completely drying out. Let it cool slightly.
Blend the carrot juice, sweetened carrot pulp and cream until thoroughly smooth and well-combined.
Freeze until firm in your choice of ice cream moulds.

*Pure cream in Australia is similar to double cream in UK and Europe, and heavy cream in North America.
**The softer the carrots, the smoother the texture of the ice cream.

sweet and creamy carrot ice pops, anyone?
Posted by leaf (the indolent cook) at 13:02
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33 comments:

  1. ChopinandMysaucepan21 October 2011 at 13:29

    This looks delicious and healthy too! Just the right thing for this warm and sunny weather coming up :)

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  2. Cassandra @aperfectpantry21 October 2011 at 14:39

    This is so cool!! I can honestly say I have never made the connection between carrots and ice blocks, but why not? I drink carrot juice!

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  3. Hannah21 October 2011 at 15:00

    Holy smokes yes! This is fabulous and so inventive :)

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  4. leaf (the indolent cook)21 October 2011 at 15:09

    ChopinandMysaucepan - I'm definitely enjoying the sunnier days!

    If you like carrot juice, Cassandra, you'll probably like this! :D

    Thanks Hannah! :)

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  5. Cindy21 October 2011 at 17:55

    Carrot milk, eh? This is totally new to me! But since you've added the word kulfi, I'm totally up for it. :-)

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  6. Winston21 October 2011 at 18:02

    Leaf, this is seriously brilliant!! I'm really glad you shared this with us. I like quirky and fun ideas such as using vegetables in dessert. I understand what you mean about carrot milk. It's definitely a liking that I've developed in my later years and didn't really appreciate when I was younger. Nice homage to quite a classic Malaysian drink! =D

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  7. Fatbooo21 October 2011 at 21:52

    mmm mmmm.... so true that I never really took to carrot milk before. But now just the thought of it sounds attractive.

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  8. leaf (the indolent cook)21 October 2011 at 23:46

    Ha, Cindy - it certainly has a kulfi-like quality to it, both in texture and taste.

    Thanks Winston! Yes, it was fun making this. Also, I must get carrot milk from the hawker stalls next time I'm in Malaysia. I've actually never ordered it!

    It really is so much more attractive now, Fatbooo! I made it with fresh milk, too, which I think I prefer over the versions made with evaporated milk or condensed milk.

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  9. Anonymous22 October 2011 at 00:09

    Oh, Kulfi! I love it! First time I got my hands on pistachio kulfi, I feel in love with the damn thing and I just can't get enough of it! I've never heard of carrot milk before though, but it sounds quirky to my French palate... which is exactly why I need to go to Malaysia one day ^^' This is a brilliant recipe, thank you so much for sharing!

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  10. Alicia Foodycat22 October 2011 at 08:01

    I like carrot halva, and I like kulfi, so this seems like a really natural progression!

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  11. leaf (the indolent cook)22 October 2011 at 09:20

    Thanks Marie-Anne! Oh and carrot milk was quirky even to me growing up in Malaysia. ;)

    It makes sense doesn't it, Foodycat. :D

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  12. ANNA22 October 2011 at 16:03

    I am sure my little girl will love these frozen treats. Sometimes I think she is BugsBunny or Thumper (from Bambi) in her past life. Anyhow, I love that she adores veggies now (not all veggies though, but that is enough to start with...) This will definitely make my little girl smile...Can you tell? I already am smiling...=)

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  13. msihua22 October 2011 at 17:49

    I still don't get it much.. hahaha.. I often wonder why people in the coffee shops in PJ would drink this.. hahaha... but this looks healthy and I should really jump on the bandwagon

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  14. leaf (the indolent cook)22 October 2011 at 18:37

    That's wonderful, Anna, your little girl sounds adorable!

    Haha msihua! Maybe try making your own carrot milk and see how you go with that. And if you like it you can graduate to carrot ice cream. ;)

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  15. Vee22 October 2011 at 22:01

    Yes, I totally never got the whole carrot juice think either when I was a kid. And when I found out they added condensed milk...man. But glad this worked out for you ;)

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  16. Yasmeen23 October 2011 at 22:05

    This rocks, Leaf - so creative. I've never heard of carrot milk but do love kulfi. Great way to blend the two :)

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  17. Vivian - vxdollface24 October 2011 at 10:29

    I don't mind adding carrots to my juices but carrot milk? Never tried that before, sounds kinda interesting!

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  18. Ashley24 October 2011 at 12:55

    This would totally hit the spot in summer! :)

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  19. leaf (the indolent cook)24 October 2011 at 13:04

    It sure did, Vee! :)

    Thanks Yasmeen! :)

    Vivian, it's basically adding strained carrot juice to milk, and additional sugar if desired. Depending on the ratio of ingredients you use, and what kind of milk you use, it can be nice and subtle, as I found out. :D

    Thanks Ashley! :)

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  20. tigerfish24 October 2011 at 13:54

    I don't think I have tried carrot milk when I was much younger. I only tried carrot in some kind of Indian desserts quite recently and I enjoyed it.

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  21. Anna @ The Littlest Anchovy25 October 2011 at 17:14

    Ooh this looks very very interesting. i can see that it would work very nicely! Love your creativity :)

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  22. Mandy@Withmilkandflour26 October 2011 at 08:23

    What a great recipe, a veggie based ice cream, genius! I never came across carrot milk when I was in Malaysia, will have to try some next time I'm there.

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  23. leaf (the indolent cook)26 October 2011 at 10:28

    I quite enjoy carrot in desserts too, tigerfish! As you can tell. ;)

    Thanks Anna! :)

    Thanks Mandy! Carrot milk can usually be found at the stalls that sell fruit juice in Malaysia.

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  24. Johanna GGG26 October 2011 at 20:41

    fascinating - can't imagine drinking carrot milk but I think your idea of carrot ice cream is genius

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  25. Heidi - Apples Under My Bed30 October 2011 at 21:43

    gee, these look amazing!! So refreshing, I'd just LOVE one now :)
    Heidi xo

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  26. leaf (the indolent cook)1 November 2011 at 19:44

    Thanks Johanna and Heidi! :D

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  27. Iron Chef Shellie2 November 2011 at 15:13

    I'd be interested to try them, they look amazing!

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  28. Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen2 November 2011 at 20:05

    Oh that sounds so good, I've never had carrots quite like that!

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  29. Emma Galloway11 November 2011 at 17:03

    wow LOVE the sound of these!!! Could go one right now, actually :-)

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  30. leaf (the indolent cook)12 November 2011 at 21:46

    Thanks Shellie, Sylvie and Emma! :)

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  31. betty22 November 2011 at 10:04

    carrot milk shake - never tried it before! for some reason i cant associate carrots in a drink - only carrot cake maybe haha

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  32. Cinnamon and Thyme29 November 2011 at 23:34

    I have never eaten carrot ice cream before. Looks delicious! :)

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  33. Jenn5 February 2012 at 17:11

    I bed adding a pinch of cardamom would be super duper awesome. Cardamom and Carrots are a match made in Heaven. Thanks for the recipe.

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