Coconut Cream Malabi
Malabi is one of our favorite desserts here at Delicious Israel, in Israel, and across the Middle East. Malabi is a milk pudding that is Turkish in origin and uniquely Middle Eastern in flavor - you will find the traditional rosewater a welcome change from cloyingly sweet desserts. This delightful sweet dish can be enjoyed any time of day, and is perfect in the hot Israeli summers. We love to sip Turkish coffee flavored with cardamom alongside this sweet dish.
Our vegan and parve friendly Coconut Cream Malabi is surprisingly simple to make. Feel free to play around and mix in your favorite toppings and syrups! The recipe below serves four, but this can be easily doubled or even tripled for larger crowds.
A special note on silan - downright delicious date honey (silan) is waiting for you in your special Delicious Israel Culinary Kit - a collection of the best products from our markets, delivered right to your kitchen. To order yours, click here!
Ingredients
1 can coconut cream (fat content should be greater than 14% for the best results)
3 tbsp. sugar
3 tbsp. cornstarch
1/3 cup of water
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract OR rose or orange blossom water (the floral waters can be added at various points in the process, depending on your preference)
Crushed (or chopped) nuts, to taste
Desiccated coconut
Pomegranate molasses and/or silan
Optional toppings: chopped seasonal fruit (strawberries, apricots, mango)
Directions
In a small saucepan combine the coconut milk and sugar. Bring to a boil.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl mix the cornstarch and water until well combined. Slowly add the cornstarch to the saucepan, continuously stirring.
Over medium heat, continue stirring until the pudding thickens - this may take 3 to 5 minutes. If needed to thicken, add additional cornstarch in small amounts until mixture begins to thicken.
Mix in the vanilla extract, orange blossom or rose water, then pour or ladle into four small bowls.
Allow to cool before serving (approximately one hour, but can be less).
When ready to serve, top with layer of pomegranate molasses or silan (date honey), desiccated coconut, and ground nuts.
