Mahalabia (Lebanese Cardamom Pudding)

Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Servings: 5
Yield: 5 servings

Description

This delicious Lebanese milk pudding is flavored with cardamom, which gives it a unique taste. Mahalabia is a popular dessert in the Middle East.

Ingredients

2 cups milk
6 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 cup white sugar
2 drops cardamom-flavored extract
1/4 cup water
5 tablespoons white sugar
1/4 vanilla bean, split lengthwise and seeds scraped
1/4 cup unsalted pistachios, coarsely chopped
1 tablespoon dried rose petals, or as needed

Directions

1 Combine 3/4 cup of the milk and cornstarch in a bowl and stir until smooth.
2 Pour remaining milk into a pot and stir in sugar and cardamom extract. Heat over low heat, stirring until sugar is fully dissolved. Whisk in cornstarch mixture and simmer until thickened, 5 to 10 minutes.
3 Pour milk mixture into 5 ramekins, cover, and cool to room temperature. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours.
4 Combine water, sugar, and vanilla seeds in a pot and bring to a boil over low heat. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Allow syrup to cool. Sprinkle each serving with pistachios and rose petals. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon syrup.