Faloodeh (Persian Frozen Rice Noodle and Rose Water Sorbet)
Local name: فالوده
In short: A frozen Persian dessert of thin rice noodles in a rose-scented sugar syrup, scraped into icy shards and served with lime juice. It takes about 30 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 10 min
- Resting
- 5 h
- Total
- 30 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 210 kcal
Faloodeh is the frozen dessert Iranians reach for on hot days, sold in small shops where thin starch noodles are set in icy rose syrup. At home, thin rice vermicelli works well, tangled through a rose water sorbet that you scrape with a fork as it freezes. The sweet, floral ice is lifted by a squeeze of lime and often a spoonful of sour cherry syrup. It is the simplest way to cool down.
Instructions
- Stir the sugar and water in a saucepan over medium heat until dissolved, then boil for 3 minutes. Cool completely and stir in the rose water.
- Cook the vermicelli in boiling water for 3 to 4 minutes, until tender. Rinse in cold water, drain well and cut into 4 cm (1 1/2 in) lengths. Toss with 2 tbsp of the syrup.
- Pour the rest of the syrup into a shallow metal pan and freeze for 1 hour, until ice crystals form around the edges.
- Scrape the ice with a fork, stir in the noodles and return the pan to the freezer. Scrape every 45 minutes, 3 to 4 times, until the mixture is a fluffy mass of ice crystals with noodles tangled through.
- Spoon into chilled glasses. Drizzle each with lime juice and cherry syrup, if using, and serve right away.
Tips
- Scrape the sorbet every 45 minutes so the ice forms fine crystals instead of one solid block. If it freezes hard, let it soften for 10 minutes and scrape again.
- Rose water strength varies, so if yours is strong, start with 2 tbsp and taste the cooled syrup before freezing. A few chopped pistachios make a richer serving.
Questions and answers
What is the difference between faloodeh and granita?
Granita is a scraped ice of fruit juice or coffee. Faloodeh is a rose-scented syrup ice with thin noodles, served with lime juice.
Can I make faloodeh ahead of time?
Yes. Make it up to 2 days ahead and keep it covered in the freezer. Let it soften for 10 minutes and scrape it before serving.
Where can I find rose water?
It is sold in Middle Eastern and South Asian shops and in many large supermarkets. Choose one made with real rose extract and add it gradually.
How long does it take to make Faloodeh (Persian Frozen Rice Noodle and Rose Water Sorbet)?
About 30 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 10 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Faloodeh (Persian Frozen Rice Noodle and Rose Water Sorbet)?
About 210 kcal per serving, with 1 g of protein, 52 g of carbohydrates and 0 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 210 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 1 g |
| Carbohydrates | 52 g |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Sugar | 38 g |
| Sodium | 5 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
