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Falooda facts for kids

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Falooda
Faluda.JPG
Falooda with kulfi, rose syrup, and basil seeds (sabja seeds)
Course Beverage
Place of origin India
Serving temperature Cold
Main ingredients Milk, rose syrup, vermicelli, sweet basil
Food energy
(per serving)
407 kcal (1704 kJ)

A falooda is a Mughlai Indian version of a cold dessert made with noodles. It has origins in the Persian dish faloodeh, variants of which are found across West, Central, and South Asia. Traditionally it is made by mixing rose syrup, vermicelli, and sweet basil seeds with milk, often served with ice cream. The vermicelli used for preparing falooda is made from wheat, arrowroot, cornstarch, or sago.'

History

A version of falooda with fruits, nuts, and an ice cream topping
Bawarchi special falooda
Falooda from a shop at Juhu Beach, Mumbai, India
Phaluda from Myanmar

The origin of falooda goes back to Iran (Persia), where a similar dessert, Faloodeh, was popular. The dessert came to Medieval India with the many Central Asian dynasties that invaded and settled in South Asia in the 16th to 18th century. The present form of falooda was developed in the Mughal Empire and spread with its conquests. The Persianate rulers who succeeded from the Mughals patronized the dessert with their own adaptations, specifically in Hyderabad Deccan and the Carnatic areas of present-day India. This dessert is now a major part of Indian cuisine, served on weddings and other occasions. It is also a well known part of Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan culture.

Variants

  • Some Indian versions consist of translucent wheat-starch noodles, and flavoured syrup.
  • In Myanmar, phaluda (ဖာလူဒါ) is made with basil seeds, grass jelly, egg pudding, vanilla ice cream, sweetened milk and rose syrup. More elaborate versions also incorporate sago, rice noodles, fruit jelly, and chopped fruit.
  • In southern Bangladesh, falooda is made with pandan extract, pistachios, sago pearls, creamed coconut, mango, milk and vermicelli, and may even include strong black tea.
  • Malaysia and Singapore have a similar drink called bandung.
  • Thailand has a similar drink, nam maenglak (น้ำแมงลัก), which is made with lemon basil seeds, shredded jelly, tapioca pearls, and Job's tears mixed with sugar, water, and rose water.
  • The Iraqi Kurds make a version with thicker vermicelli.
  • The Mauritian version is called alouda.
  • South Africa also has a variant.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Falooda para niños

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