After the first time I went to Ranger BBQ, Noah and I decided to wander into a nearby store that promised kulfi, a type of Indian ice cream.
Something in the pastry case caught his eye, so he also picked up two cookies. I think these were pistachio – I wound up trying a little bit, and it was chewy, nutty, and tasty. I don’t know that this was something I would go out of my way to pick up for myself – if you really like pistachios, though, this might be to your liking. (Perhaps Noah will chime in with what he thought?)
The promised kulfi came in these cute plastic containers that had a plastic stick with lid stuck into them.
On the lid were these directions. I had a little trouble with mine.
So Noah decided to show me the proper way, using his own to demonstrate (he had pistachio flavored kulfi; I think he really likes pistachios).
He succeeded in freeing his kulfi in pristine condition.
When I finally managed to pull mine from its confines, it had this huge crack down the middle! Fortunately, this didn’t affect the flavor, and I enjoyed the mango-flavored kulfi. The ice cream was a little creamier, light in flavor and very rich. I liked it, and I wound up getting another mango one the following week after I visited Ranger BBQ again.
Yvo says: This cute shop just a block from the 74th/Broadway/Roosevelt Ave. stop on the E/F/M/R/7 train station has a lot of goodies for purchase. The long counter displays many treats (like the pistachio cookies), and the freezer has a variety of flavors of kulfi pops. For $1.25/pop, I can’t imagine any reason not to go pick one up to try when you’re in the area – or keep your eyes peeled for kulfi in any store in the Jackson Heights area, as I saw a couple of other places with signs advertising kulfi. Yum! Perfect treat on a hot summer day.
recommended
TT says
the “cookie” looks like halva. traditionally eaten at diwali. i think in addition to pistachios it has mango puree. CT will have to chime in since I am not yet 100% Indian.
CT says
Aww… TT is a very cute almost-indian. No, that definitely isn’t halva. I was thinking it looks like Burfi… made of condensed milk and usually flavored with either fruit or nuts. Very sweet, as most indian desserts are.
I love mango kulfi! Don’t worry, I’m no pro at getting it out either! 😛
T.C. says
burfi isn’t a type of halva/ halwa? me wouldn’t know.
I don’t eat too many Indian sweets but thought halva was the name to call sweets in general.
Feisty Foodie says
I thought halva was a Jewish sesame bar cookie?
TT says
it can be. apparently lots of cultures have variations of the same sweets.
Feisty Foodie says
Ah, okay. BF loves halva… he puts it in the fridge
TT says
check out Wiki Wiki
Middle East, Asia, Africa, Europe. Halva is aiming for world domination.
Feisty Foodie says
I think dumplings has halva beat by a billion years hahaha
T.C. says
NICE, Indian sweets shop!! I have eaten at the Rajhbog place, which is next door. I wonder how are the chaats here. Hhhmmm.
Oh, place is on 37th Avenue. Not 73rd Street.
I’m not Indian either but TT should be correct since halva is namely a sweet treat. There are many types of halva. *drools*
T.C. says
Opps, I failed Indian 101 too. 😛
CT says
You are correct that halva is a sweet treat and there are many kinds (within Indian cultures and across many others). I guess I’m used to eating a few very specific kinds that my family gets, and they usually do not look like that.
However, in Hindi, a generic “desserts” or “sweets” category would more likely be Mithai. Without seeing/smelling/tasting I couldn’t be certain of what it is either, so I could be wrong in my assessment, but my initally guess was pisto-burfi.
Feisty Foodie says
I’m learning so much from this post!
chakrateeze says
In Bengali they call it “Mishti.”
T.C. says
I was in a chaat mood tonight so decided to get their papri chaat. It was so-so for me. No chickpeas in it but lentils instead. Not bad to try for $5.
The kulfi they’re selling now was in plastic baggies, not the containers. Not a big deal. Plus there are plenty of places around the vicinity selling kulfi for 1.25.
Oh, before leaving with my chaat, the guy confirmed it is BURFI. CT is correct. Haha. The ones I ended up pointing to were cashew, according to the clerk. And maybe he got tired of me asking further…he said the ones shaped like a diamond (like the picture) are the same ones and not pistachios…Um, but they aren’t the same shape. Whatever I guess. Burfi!
Feisty Foodie says
Hmmm, I just used their address… but you’re right, you can’t have an address start with 72 and be on 73rd street, haha
Feisty Foodie says
I fixed it, but not sure how long it will take to show up.
Hungry says
Ugh, I can’t handle Indian sweets. They’re just too sweet for me. However, kulfi is more creamy that sweet…well depending on where you get it. Anyway, I’ve seen kulfi traditionally made in those popsicle stick pods. FIL has the metal kinds. Time for him to write up the recipe for me!
Feisty Foodie says
The cookies weren’t too sweet, but I had literally a tiny corner. I really liked the texture, actually!
Noah says
You can always count on me to order a pistachio dessert.
I’ve had the pistachio chewy cookies before at a couple places, but I always forget what they’re called. I’m not sure if I love them, but the texture is unique. I liked the pistachio kulfi better. Very creamy.
I’m totally stopping in for dessert next time i got to JH.
Feisty Foodie says
See: all the comments from people way more familiar with the cuisine than I am! And yeah, come in for some Indian food perhaps and we’ll finish at Raja.
chakrateeze says
OMG! Indian sweets are the best! Rosgollohs (paneer soaked in syrup), ras malai (paneer soaked in clotted cream), burfi (cooked down milk solids and sometimes nuts), but my favorite was something called kir-kadam, which is dried milk on the outside and gosgollohs in the middle. So GOOD! I am definitely putting Raja on my list when I go on my NYC vacation.
Tracie
Feisty Foodie says
I think that all sounds great, though maybe a little too sweet for me! When you get to NYC, holla – the Feisty crew would not be opposed to meeting up to say hi and share a meal 🙂
chakrateeze says
thanks, I’d love to meet you guys for real! But, it isn’t too sweet! Not in India, anyways, which is the only place I’ve ever had it. The dried milk is rich and not sweet at all. Only when you bite into it does the syrup
chakrateeze says
Ahh! My standard poodle hit send!
Anyways, only when you bite into does the syrup make itself known and the syrup’s more like simple syrup (not thick like maple syrup, or anything). So good! Dry and wet, rich and sweet. Perfect.
Tracie