Mahalabia (Rose Water Milk Pudding)

By Jessica Swartz June 20, 2023 28 mins read 116 Views

Photo credits: Mariam Hamdy

Muhalabia, a traditional Arabic pudding made with milk and pistachios, is similar to Italian pannacotta. It's flavored with aromatic rosewater and crunchy pistachios. This elegant dessert is gluten-free and perfect for brunches or as a tasty after-dinner treat.

Muhalabia, a milk pudding popular in many Arab, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean nations. You can spell the creamy milk pudding in many different ways. It is often written as "Muhallabi", Malabi or Mehalabeya, with Greece and Turkey having their own versions.

This dessert is especially popular during the summer when it's refreshing and light. It provides a welcome break from the sweltering temperatures. The dessert has a creamy texture and a slightly sweet, delicate flavor.

Muhalabia can be served cold and is a great option for parties. It's especially good after a meal of Grilled Chicken Harissa with Cucumber Tomato Salad. You can prepare it ahead of time and store it in the fridge, so that you won't have to worry about last-minute preparations. Instead, you can enjoy socializing around the grill.

This recipe for milk pudding is traditionally made with pistachios, rose petals, and macerated strawberries. I like the addition of macerated strawberries. This light dessert gets a new layer of texture, and bright summer flavors.

Table of Contents

Muhalabia Milk Pudding Ingredients
Muhalabia Milk pudding: How to make it?
How to mix it up
What to serve with Muhalabia Milk Dessert
Delightful Desserts
Mahalabia (Rose Water Milk Pudding Recipe)

Muhalabia Milk Pudding Ingredients

This milk pudding is made with simple ingredients found in most Middle Eastern households. They're easy to find, no matter where you are:

Dairy Muhalabia traditionally is made with whole-milk, but plant-based alternatives can be substituted (I prefer almond milk). To make it extra creamy and rich, I substitute 3/4 cup of whole milk with heavy cream.
Sugar The recipe calls for half a cup of sugar. However, you can increase the amount to 3/4-1 cup if you prefer a sweeter dessert. Start with 1/2 cup, and then adjust according to your taste.
Cornstarch is a thickener used in soups, sauces and desserts. It's made of finely ground cornflour. Rice flour can be substituted, but will add a slightly different texture to the pudding.
Rose Water: The rose water is made by steam distillation of rose petals. The floral fragrance pairs well with fruits, spices, nuts and desserts. You can find rose water in the international food aisle at your local grocery store or by ordering it from our online shop.
Pistachios Pistachios play a significant role in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean desserts. Baklava is a popular dessert that uses pistachios as a key ingredient. But they can also be used to garnish cakes, cookies, ice-cream, and other sweets. The traditional way to decorate muhalabia, and other creamy desserts such as rice pudding, is with chopped pistachios. The green pistachios add a beautiful color and contrast to creamy puddings.
Strawberry: The flavor of strawberries is bright and refreshing. In the summer, strawberries are in abundance and are sweet and juicy. We use their color and sweetness to great effect in this dessert. You can use other seasonal fruits or berries. If you are pressed for time, replace the macerated strawberry with a strawberry compote that is scented with mint and rose water.

How To Make Muhalabia The Milk Pudding

This recipe is easy to make with only a few simple ingredients and a single pot. To make Muhalabia:

In a medium-sized, cold pot, whisk together four cups of whole milk with 1/2 cup of each sugar and cornstarch. Stir until the sugar and cornstarch are dissolved and well combined.
Heat up the pudding:Put on medium heat and continue to whisk until the pudding is bubbling. Reduce the heat to a medium setting and continue stirring until the pudding is thickened.
Add a little flavor to the pudding. Remove the pot from heat once the pudding is thick and add 1 teaspoon rose water.
Chill : Divide into 4-8 individual cups. Make sure you leave space for the strawberries. Set aside for cooling, then chill until set in the refrigerator, which can take up to two days.
To make the macerated strawberry: In large bowl, combine 1 pound of quartered berries, 2 tablespoons sugar and 1/2 teaspoon rose water. Allow the fruit to stand at room temp for at least 30 mins until it releases its juices. Once macerated refrigerate for up to a day.
Serve the pudding:Top it with the macerated strawberrys. Serve cold with 2 tablespoons crushed pistachios.

Mix It Up

Muhalabia’s simple milk pud is a blank slate that can take on any flavor you add. You can customize this dessert according to your taste.

Muhalabia is traditionally flavored with Rose Water, Orange Blossom Water and sometimes Mastic. This pine-like resin is most commonly used by Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines.

Make your own pudding using flavors such as vanilla or cardamom. You can also use cinnamon and orange. Try adding shredded Coconut, raisins, and cinnamon to the pudding.

Roses and strawberries are a great combination. You can also experiment with different fruits and flavors, such as mixed berry compote.

Milk Pudding

Muhalabia makes a great light dessert for brunch. It is perfect after a meal of Middle Eastern breakfast favorites like Shakshuka. Serve after dinner as a delicious way to finish a summer BBQ featuring grilled favorites such as Shish Tawook or Romaine Salad. Serve with Arabic Tea with Fresh Mint or Lemon Ginger Tea.

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A splash of this aromatic liquid, made using the time-honored process of distillation, adds a delicate aroma to sweet or savory dishes. It can be used in everything from rice pudding and compotes to ice cold lemonade.

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Mahalabia (Rose Water Milk Pudding),

Muhalabia, a Middle Eastern pudding made with milk and rosewater, is similar to Italian pannacotta. It's also topped with pistachios and finished off in rose water. It has a creamy and smooth texture, with a subtle sweetness. It can also be prepared in advance. This easy and delicious dessert, which is gluten-free, is ideal for holiday brunches or dinner parties. This recipe yields four 1-cup portions or eight 1/2 cup portions.

Course brunch, Dessert

Cuisine Meditrranean and Middle Eastern

Diet Gluten Free, Vegetarian

Prep Time 15 Minutes

Cook Time 10 Minutes

Chilling Time 2 Hours

Total Time: 2 hours, 25 minutes and 5 minutes

Servings

Calories 194 Kcal

TMD team Author

Ingredients

Milk pudding

4 cups whole milk or almond milk
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup cornstarch
1 teaspoon rosewater
2 tablespoons unsalted shelled pistachios, crushed, for garnish

Macerated strawberries

1 one pound strawberry stems cut off and quartered
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon rosewater

Instructions

How to make the Muhalabia:

Prepare the pudding: In an ice-cold medium saucepan, whisk the milk, sugar and cornstarch together until they have completely dissolved.
Heat the milk in a saucepan on medium heat. Bring to a gentle simmer. Whirl constantly to prevent the milk from sticking to the bottom. Reduce the heat to medium, and whisk the mixture for 10 minutes.
Add rose water to the pan and remove it from the heat.
Divide the pudding between 4-8 cups. Leave some room for the macerated strawberry. Refrigerate the pudding for 2-3 hours, or even up to two days, after it has cooled.

How to Make Maccerated Strawberries

To season the strawberries, combine the sugar and rosewater in a medium-sized bowl. Allow to stand at room temp for at least 30 minutes, or even up to two hours. Refrigerate after 30 minutes (up to 1 day ).).

To serve:

Serve the pudding garnished with strawberries. Serve cold with crushed pistachios as a garnish.

Notes

You can adjust this recipe to suit your tastes. You can add more sugar to the recipe if you like it sweet, or cinnamon, nutmeg or other spices for a deeper flavor.
Avoid scorching by keeping a constant eye on the situation while thickening the milk-whisk.
Browse our online shop for quality Mediterranean ingredients such as olive oil, honey, jams and spices.

Nutrition

Carbohydrates: 33.3g

The Mediterranean Dish published Mahalabia, a rose water milk pudding.

By: TMD Team
Title: Mahalabia (Rose Water Milk Pudding)
Sourced From: www.themediterraneandish.com/mahalabia-milk-pudding/
Published Date: Tue, 20 Jun 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I lose weight using the Mediterranean diet

It is possible to lose weight by following the Mediterranean Diet. The diet's focus on whole foods such as vegetables, fruits, and legumes, and quality fats like olive oil can help reduce calorie intake and provide essential nutrients for overall health and wellness. This eating plan can help you lose weight by incorporating physical activity. With the right mindset, you can reduce your intake of processed foods and red meats, as well as add sugars, to help you maintain a healthy weight.

Is the Mediterranean diet primarily plant-based

Yes, the Mediterranean Diet consists primarily of plants. This ancient diet focuses on plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables legumes, nuts and seeds. The traceability of red meat, poultry, fish and other animal protein sources around the Mediterranean Sea has meant that they are less common in modern diets. This protein source can be omitted by those who prefer a vegetarian, vegan, or alternative diet. Other dairy sources, such as tofu and soy yogurt, are great alternative options for added nutrition and protein.

What foods aren't allowed in a Mediterranean diet

Certain food groups are excluded from the Mediterranean diet, such as processed foods and added sugars. To maintain the health benefits of this diet, certain foods should not be consumed. These foods can be eaten occasionally, but they can have a negative impact on the health benefits of Mediterranean-style eating.

On a Mediterranean diet, whole-grain breads and starches like white bread, sugary grains, and other highly processed baked goods are prohibited. These items are rapidly absorbed as sugars into your system and can cause weight increase over time. They also lack vitamins and minerals as compared to whole grains like quinoa and millet.

Other sugars fall under this category too. Limit your intake of sweetened beverages, such as soda, tea with added sugars, or juices. These won't help you manage weight, or provide healthy nutrient profiles.

When it comes to meats, red meats and processed meats should not be included in any version of a Mediterranean-style meal plan. Red meats or processed meats contain high amounts of saturated fat. This increases cholesterol and can increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. The association of nitrates in processed lunchmeat may lead to increased cancer risk. Dairy products should not also be consumed frequently as some cheeses contain significant amounts of saturatedfats. However, feta and skimmed milk are better options than heavy cream and creme fraiche alternatives.

According to nutrition experts, fish should not be eaten more than three times per week.

Statistics

Choose fat-free or 1% milk, yogurt, and cottage cheese. (my.clevelandclinic.org)
In one study, the healthiest eaters at age 50 had a nearly 90% lower risk of dementia than those with the least healthy diets. (heart.org)
One small study suggested that swapping one-half of your serving of a high-glycemic starch (like rice) with lentils helps lower the glycemic response by 20 percent. (everydayhealth.com)
Benefits of Replacing foods high in saturated fats (like butter) with plant sources high in monounsaturated fatty acids, like olive oil, may help lower the risk of heart disease by 19 percent, according to research. (everydayhealth.com)

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How To

How to plan a week of Mediterranean-inspired meals that are delicious and healthy?

Mediterranean eating is a good way to improve your overall health, and quality of living. This high-nutrient diet emphasizes healthy fats and whole grains, legumes as well as fresh fruits and vegetables. Eating this way can have many potential benefits, such as helping maintain better blood lipids, improved glucose control, reduced risk for depression and certain types of cancer, better cardiac health, increased cognitive function, and improved weight management.

Following these tips can make it easy to incorporate Mediterranean-inspired foods into your diet: swapping out high-calorie snacks like chips with nutrient-dense vegetable appetizers or other traditional greens or beans dishes; learning how to increase variety with spices or different sources derived from nuts, fruits, and vegetables; integrating more whole grains, legumes, and high fiber items that can enhance satiety after meals; adding moderate amounts of dairy products like yogurt cheese and milk throughout the day for added nutrition; using olive oil as the primary cooking fat instead of traditional oils; occasionally enjoying a glass of red wine to complete the Mediterranean experience.

To plan a week of delicious and nutritious meals that fit within the Mediterranean diet guidelines, begin by focusing on specific components, including proteins such as fatty fish, poultry, or eggs; healthy fats from olive oil nuts or avocadoes; vegetables in prepared vegetables salads dips spreads or soups; starches such as potatoes legumes ancient grains, etc. ; fruits for desserts snacks smoothies, etc. Seasonings herbs, sauces and optional dairy yogurt cheese Kefir. Mixing and matching different flavors throughout the week will ensure that you get enough nutrients while still maintaining a balance of flavor, which is an essential part of a Mediterranean balanced lifestyle. You will see even greater improvements in your body composition and health if you combine the meal with regular exercise.