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Bastani – Persian Rosewater, Saffron and Pistachio Ice Cream

Here is my recipe for bastani – a traditional Persian ice cream flavored with saffron, rosewater and pistachios.

For my Persian friends out there, you know the unmistakable flavor of this bastani – or Persian ice cream. Earthy from saffron, a hint of floral flavor from the rosewater and the satisfying crunch of the pistachios, it is the ultimate summer treat.

No churn bastani - Persian ice cream with rosewater, pistachios and saffron. A semi-homemade Middle-Eastern treat!

No churn bastani – Persian ice cream with rosewater, pistachios and saffron. A semi-homemade Middle-Eastern treat!

It sounds luxurious so it must take hours of toiling in the kitchen to make, right? Wrong! This is a no-churn, semi-homemade ice cream! And until Santa brings me the ice cream maker attachment for my KitchenAid, I’m sticking with my beloved semi-homemade method of making ice cream. Because it’s easy and damn delicious!

No churn bastani - Persian ice cream with rosewater, pistachios and saffron. A semi-homemade Middle-Eastern treat!

No churn bastani – Persian ice cream with rosewater, pistachios and saffron. A semi-homemade Middle-Eastern treat!

This Persian Saffron ice cream – also called bastani sonnati or bastani akbar mashti – is somethingΒ I always remember eating between two flat wafers as a delicious sandwich of goodness. Often studded with frozen fresh cream, I can only imagine the caloric bomb these delectable treats were! But on a hot summer afternoon with the sun beating down and no relief to the heat wave in sight (kindof like today), there’s nothing less than some delicious ice cream to do the trick.

No churn bastani - Persian ice cream with rosewater, pistachios and saffron. A semi-homemade Middle-Eastern treat!

No churn bastani – Persian ice cream with rosewater, pistachios and saffron. A semi-homemade Middle-Eastern treat!

I like to use gelato for this recipe because it stays really creamy, but in a pinch you can use ice cream as well. The saffron will turn it a beautiful color of orange-y yellow and the smell is divine. Enjoy πŸ™‚

Bastani - Persian Rosewater, Saffron and Pistachio Ice Cream
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Dessert
Cuisine: Persian
Prep time: 
Total time: 
No churn bastani - Persian ice cream with rosewater, pistachios and saffron. A semi-homemade Middle-Eastern treat!
Ingredients
  • 1 pint pistachio gelato (I prefer gelato because the end result is more creamy instead of icy)
  • ¼ cup of rosewater
  • 1 teaspoon powdered or ground saffron
Instructions
  1. Let your gelato sit on the counter for about 15-20 minutes until soft.
  2. Heat the rosewater in a small mug in the microwave for 30 seconds until hot.
  3. Add the saffron to the rosewater and stir to combine.
  4. Scoop the softened ice cream into a mixing bowl, and pour the beautifully orange saffron-rosewater mixture over it.
  5. Mix well with a spoon until all combined.
  6. Pour the softened bastani back into the ice cream container and freeze for at least an hour or until it reaches your desired consistency.
Notes
You can find saffron and rosewater at your local ethnic grocer or online here:

Rosewater
Saffron

*Please note this post contains affiliate links which means that if you end up buying a product, I’ll make a tiny profit at no extra cost to you.

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 No churn bastani - Persian ice cream with rosewater, pistachios and saffron. A semi-homemade Middle-Eastern treat!
{ 34 comments… add one }
  • Pinky JJ July 21, 2016, 10:25 pm

    Ahu Joonam,

    Just went I was hoping to control my sugar intake, you give us this amazing recipe? With superfine pictures to boot?!!!!

    I refuse to abstain* from having lotsa sugar!!!

    Pinky Joon Joon

    * Anagram of ‘bastani’ <33!!!!

    • Ahu Shahrabani July 22, 2016, 8:51 am

      Haha! Well maybe you can just look at the pictures instead of eating it?

  • suzanne July 22, 2016, 7:05 am

    Ahu you have no idea how much I love that ice cream and have not had it for years. Have to admit I love those frozen chunks of cream in it. The rosewater and saffron are such a heavenly combination. Your semi homemade no churn is just perfect.

    • Ahu Shahrabani July 22, 2016, 8:49 am

      Suzanne, I’m so glad! I need to figure out how to do the frozen cream, it’s sooo decadent but good! Thank you πŸ™‚ One of these days we need to meet up for a meal πŸ™‚

      • Parisa July 22, 2016, 3:56 pm

        To make the cream chunk pour heavy whiping cream in a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper and freeze. You can then cut or break it into little pieces. I can’t wait to make this. Thanks for such a wonderful recipe!

  • David July 22, 2016, 10:07 am

    I will have to try this – we have a great gelato shop here and their pistachio is wonderful! What a perfect summer treat!

  • Natalie @ Obses July 24, 2016, 9:01 pm

    I love the bold colors – I hope I can find rosewater in my small town!

  • soniya Saluja July 24, 2016, 9:05 pm

    OH My.. I am loving the flavors πŸ˜€ YUM!!

    • Ahu Shahrabani August 1, 2016, 5:32 pm

      I’m so glad you like the flavors and that you stopped by! πŸ™‚

  • themodestfoxpr July 24, 2016, 9:41 pm

    This looks so amazing!! Yummy!

  • Angie Rose July 24, 2016, 9:47 pm

    This looks absolutely delicious! We’d love it if you shared this with us at Dishing It & Digging It this week. Hope to see you there πŸ™‚ http://www.angiethefreckledrose.com/dishing-it-digging-it-106

  • Lisa Sell July 25, 2016, 4:08 am

    I love ice cream and particularly gelato after discovering how amazing it is when I went to Rome a few months ago. This recipe looks amazing!

  • mahroo July 25, 2016, 4:20 am

    Love this! And the pictures are gorgeous! x

  • Megan July 25, 2016, 5:06 am

    YUMM!!!

  • Angela Philemon July 25, 2016, 8:49 am

    Looking wonderful πŸ™‚ need to try this

  • Dom July 25, 2016, 10:02 am

    This looks so incredibly good!

  • Nicole July 25, 2016, 7:58 pm

    Oh my gosh! The photography on this post is just simply amazing! It is gorgeous! Well done!

  • Kenia July 25, 2016, 11:02 pm

    OMG this looks amazing! I love the flavor combination. I wish a store sold this so I can have it asap. Thank you I will be making this very soon.

  • Ninz July 26, 2016, 12:30 pm

    OMG, looks so delicious. Pinning it to my board! xxx

    Ninz

  • Krysten July 26, 2016, 5:41 pm

    The flavor combination sounds amazing and the photos make it look even better!
    I am going to have to make this soon.
    Can you ask Santa to bring me the attachment for my mixer too? πŸ˜›

  • Sarina Wang July 26, 2016, 9:24 pm

    You make this look so easy! Your pictures are gorgeous hun, and I absolutely love how you made the recipe seem so simplistic. I’m considering actually trying this recipe, but I know it will not turn out nearly as amazing a yours did. Loved this post <3 Thanks!

  • Angela July 26, 2016, 9:30 pm

    Even though this has ingredients I normally wouldn’t try, you make it look and sound amazing!

  • Kirsten July 26, 2016, 9:52 pm

    This looks very good! Love the colors too!

    http://thewanderingbrunette.com

  • Jolina - The Unlikely Baker July 26, 2016, 10:47 pm

    WOW. Just look at that vibrant yellow! And TBH no-churn is my favourite ice cream now. Of course I don’t have an ice cream maker either so I have no comparison haha but no-churn is just awesome and takes no time at all. Can’t wait to make this while it’s hot and sizzling here!

  • Poorva July 27, 2016, 12:12 am

    oh my this looks so good !

  • Hanna July 27, 2016, 4:58 am

    Mmm, looks yummy and very interesting flavors!

  • Christine - Jar Of Lemons July 27, 2016, 12:54 pm

    This ice cream is BEAUTIFUL! I love the bright color. Will have to try this recipe!

  • Melanie Smith July 27, 2016, 7:35 pm

    This ice cream looks so delicious. Pistacho is one of my favorite flavors.

  • Mary July 28, 2016, 4:02 pm

    The colors on this are fantastic! It sounds absolutely delicious!

  • Emily July 30, 2016, 11:44 am

    Mmmm the combination of pistachio ice cream and rosewater sounds amazing!!! I will have to put this on my food bucket list πŸ˜€

  • Kari August 1, 2016, 3:21 pm

    Yum! What a fun, unique flavor idea!
    Kari
    http://www.sweetteasweetie.com

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