Muhallebi
Delicate milk pudding scented with rose water and pistachio.
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Join HomecookedIngredients
- 600 ml Milk
- 50 g Cornstarch
- 100 g Sugar
- 1 tbsp Rose water
- 30 g Pistachios (optional)
Method
- Whisk the cornstarch and sugar into the cold milk in a saucepan, then cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens to a pourable custard that coats the back of a spoon, about 8 minutes.
- Stir the rose water into the hot custard.
- Divide the warm custard between four small serving cups or ramekins, smoothing the tops.
- Chill the cups until the custard is set and cold, at least 2 hours.
- Top each with chopped pistachios and serve cold.
Nutrition per serving
Estimated from ingredients; varies with exact portions and brands.
About Muhallebi
Muhallebi is a delicate milk pudding found across the Middle East, Turkey, and the eastern Mediterranean, thickened not with eggs but with cornstarch for a clean, pure-white set. This version is scented with rose water and finished with chopped pistachios, the floral and nutty notes that mark the classic Levantine style. The whole thing hinges on one bit of technique: whisking the cornstarch into cold milk before heating and then stirring constantly as it cooks, which is how you reach a smooth, spoon-coating custard without lumps or scorching. Because it leans on milk rather than cream and carries only modest sugar, it stays notably light for a dessert.
Chilled and set, muhallebi is silky and softly wobbling, subtly sweet, with the rose water lending a perfumed lift and the pistachios adding colour and a gentle crunch on top. It's the kind of restrained, refreshing sweet that closes a rich meal well, often served in small cups after a mezze spread or as an everyday family dessert. The floral scent is easy to overdo, so the light hand the recipe takes keeps it fragrant rather than soapy. It needs a couple of hours to chill and set fully, making it a fuss-free dessert to portion out and forget until you're ready to serve four cold cups.
Muhallebi: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Muhallebi?
One serving of Muhallebi has about 243 calories, with 5g of protein, 44g of carbs, 5g of fat and 0g of fiber. These are estimates based on the ingredient amounts in this recipe and will vary with your exact portions and brands.
Is Muhallebi gluten-free?
Based on its ingredients, Muhallebi has no gluten-containing components, so it's naturally gluten-free — as always, check that any packaged ingredients you use are certified gluten-free to be safe.
Is Muhallebi dairy-free?
Not as written — it uses Milk. Swapping it for a plant-based alternative makes it dairy-free.
How long does Muhallebi take to make?
About 20 minutes start to finish, but only around 13 of those are hands-on — the rest is largely unattended cooking time you can step away from. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.
Do I need every ingredient to make Muhallebi?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out pistachios — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Muhallebi make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.