What is faloudeh?

[fdb]

Went to Mashti Malone in Glendale today for the 1st time. After trying several flavors, I decided on lavender and ginger rosewater. Boy, I think these are the riches (and most fattening?) ice cream I've ever had, but I like it (albeit not as much as Scoops) . I asked the counter person what faloudeh is since I see that on the menu but couldn't figure out what he was talking about. Please explain.

[epop]

in short, faloudeh is frozen slightly cooked rice noodles in rosewater with lemon or sour cherries, traditionally. but now there are these hybrids.

[J.L.]

Agree with epop... They're a traditional Persian dessert item. Tochal Market on Westwood Blvd. sells faloudeh, as well as rosewater (AKA Gol-ab) and bastani (ice cream).

Note: Faloudeh is not ice cream in and of itself. Rather, it is a frozen dessert.

[katkoupai]

Faloudeh is usually served with regular Persian ice cream. One scoop of Persian ice cream, one scoop of faloudeh. The Persian ice cream is very rich, deep yellow and creamy, and the faloudeh is almost clear and icy (imagine a frozen rosewater flavored Icee with thin noodles in it that is very, very sweet). People usually serve this ice cream and faloudeh combination with fresh lemon juice squeezed on top, or sour cherry jam on top.

[onebite]

Mouth watering . . . drool gathering . . . faloudi with fresh lemon juice . . . best frozen dessert EVER . . . ..

[epop]

for the record, i disagree. it is an independent entity that is and isn't combined with the ice cream...

[katkoupai]

I noticed on the Mashti Malone website that it's served on its own there. I've never had it that way, but I thought the picture looked nice. :-)

[epop]

achso, i see. yes, it is more common to have it that way, independently. a bit like pie a la mode.

[luckyfatima]

falooda refers to both the vermicelli and the dessert itself with all the icecream and syrups and whatever other additives. I don't think falooda is made of rice noodles, but I don't know what starch they are made of, something that turns gelatinous...or maybe Irani falooda is made with rice and South Asian falooda is made with some other starch.

[katkoupai]

I'm glad you mentioned this because I think there's a Indian dessert beverage called falooda as well.

[luckyfatima]

yes, there are many many South Asian foods that are Persian origin because of the historical and geographical connections---falooda is one of them.

[katkoupai]

Thanks. I looked it up, too. I would love to try it sometime.

[epop]

made of rice noodles. they cook almost instantly in the sugar/rosewater/water combo and then are frozen.