Smooth Persian Custard

This Smooth Persian Custard is a delicately flavored and utterly luxurious dessert. Infused with aromatic cardamom and optional rose water, its silky texture melts in your mouth, offering a unique and elegant sweet treat. Finished with a sprinkle of vibrant pistachios, it’s as beautiful as it is delicious.

Smooth Persian Custard

Ingredients:

Instructions:

1. Warm Milk: In a medium saucepan, heat 2 1/4 cups whole milk over low heat until warm. Do not boil.
2. Make Cornstarch Slurry: While the milk warms, add 4 tablespoons cornstarch to a small bowl. Add in a few tablespoons of the warm milk from the saucepan into the bowl with the cornstarch, whisking vigorously to combine. Continue whisking until the mixture is a smooth, gravy-like consistency, forming a slurry.
3. Combine Ingredients in Pot: Add the prepared cornstarch slurry, 3/4 cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cardamom, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1 teaspoon rose water (if using) into the pot with the remaining warm milk. Whisk thoroughly to combine all ingredients.
4. Thicken Custard: Continue heating the mixture over low to medium-low heat, stirring constantly with a whisk or wooden spoon. Heat until the custard thickens to your desired consistency and a few bubbles gently break through the surface, indicating it’s cooked. This will take several minutes.
5. Portion Custard: Remove the saucepan from the heat. Ladle the hot custard into 4 large or 8 small serving dishes or ramekins.
6. Prevent Skin & Chill: Immediately cover the surface of each individual dish directly with plastic wrap. This step is crucial to prevent a “skin” from forming on top of the custard as it cools.
7. Refrigerate: Refrigerate the custards and cool completely, ideally for at least 2-3 hours, or until thoroughly chilled and set.
8. Garnish & Serve: Before serving, remove the plastic wrap from each dish. Sprinkle generously with 4 tablespoons of finely ground pistachios for garnish. Serve chilled and enjoy!

This Smooth Persian Custard offers a delightful and unique flavor profile, perfect as a light dessert.