Bastani Sonnati (Persian Saffron and Rosewater Ice Cream)

About This Recipe

Bastani sonnati is Persian traditional ice cream, its flavor built from saffron and rosewater rather than the vanilla or chocolate common in Western ice creams, giving it a distinctly floral, golden character. A key traditional technique is folding in tar, thin ribbons of frozen clotted cream, into the churned ice cream base, creating pockets of extra-rich, waxy cream that punctuate each bite with an unexpected textural contrast. Crushed pistachios scattered over the top complete the presentation, and in Iran, bastani is often served pressed between wafers as a sandwich, though a simple scoop showcases its saffron-rosewater flavor just as well.

Ingredients

Serves 6

• 2 cupsheavy cream(divided)
• 1 cupwhole milk
• 3/4 cupsugar
• 4egg yolks
• 1 pinchsaffron threads(ground and bloomed in 1 tbsp hot water)
• 2 tbsprosewater
• 1/3 cupcrushed pistachios(for garnish)

Instructions

1. 1

   Make the tar (frozen cream ribbons)

   Freeze 1 cup of the heavy cream in a shallow dish until solid, then scrape into thin curls with a spoon; keep frozen until ready to use.

2. 2

   Make the custard base

   Whisk milk, sugar and egg yolks together, then cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.

3. 3

   Add flavorings

   Remove from heat and stir in the bloomed saffron water and rosewater.

4. 4

   Chill

   Strain the custard, stir in the remaining 1 cup heavy cream, and refrigerate until completely cold, at least 3 hours.

   Chill the custard base thoroughly — churning a base that's still warm will result in icy, poorly textured ice cream.

5. 5

   Churn

   Churn the chilled custard in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.

6. 6

   Fold in the tar

   In the last few minutes of churning, fold in the frozen cream curls (tar).

7. 7

   Freeze and serve

   Transfer to a container and freeze at least 4 hours until firm, then scoop and garnish with crushed pistachios.

Variations

• •

  Bastani sandwich, served between two wafers, is a popular street food format in Iran.

• •

  Some versions add a bit of vanilla alongside the saffron and rosewater for extra depth.

• •

  A simpler version without the tar cream ribbons still captures the essential saffron-rosewater flavor.

Storage

Store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 weeks; let soften at room temperature for a few minutes before scooping for the best texture.

Frequently Asked Questions