Rose and Cardamom Infused Pistachio Kulfi

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-04 · Updated 2026-05-04

A creamy Indian frozen dessert flavored with fragrant rose water and warm cardamom, studded with crunchy pistachios for Valentine’s Day indulgence. This indian-inspired valentine’s day ready in about 40 minutes pairs whole milk, sweetened condensed milk, heavy cream for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 4 cups whole milk
• 1 cup sweetened condensed milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 6 pods green cardamom pods, crushed
• 1 tbsp rose water
• 1/2 cup pistachios, chopped
• 10 strands (optional) saffron strands

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, bring 4 cups whole milk to a gentle boil over medium heat. Add 6 crushed green cardamom pods and 10 saffron strands if using. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring frequently, for 20 minutes until milk reduces by about one-third and thickens slightly.
2. Step 2: Remove cardamom pods and stir in 1 cup sweetened condensed milk and 1 cup heavy cream. Cook for an additional 5 minutes over low heat while stirring until mixture is creamy.
3. Step 3: Remove from heat and stir in 1 tbsp rose water and 1/2 cup chopped pistachios. Let mixture cool to room temperature, then pour into kulfi molds or small cups.
4. Step 4: Freeze for at least 6 hours or overnight until solid. To serve, dip molds briefly in warm water and unmold the kulfi onto plates for a fragrant Valentine’s Day frozen dessert.