FALOODEH

Faloodeh is a traditional Persian frozen dessert made with thin rice noodles mixed into a sweet, fragrant syrup flavored with rose water and lime juice. It’s semi-frozen to create a granita-like texture and often served with sour cherry syrup, lime wedges, or pistachios. Refreshing and aromatic, faloodeh is especially popular in the summer.

Faloodeh (Persian Lime & Rose Water Granita with Rice Noodles)

Ingredients:

Syrup:

• 800 ml water

• 250 g sugar

• Pinch of sea salt

• 2 tablespoons rose water

• Juice of 1 lime

Noodles:

• 100 g rice vermicelli

To serve (optional):

• Lime wedges

• Slivered pistachios

• Sour cherry syrup

Instructions:

In a medium saucepan, combine the water, sugar, and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar is fully dissolved.

Reduce the heat and let it simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in the rose water and lime juice, and allow the syrup to cool completely.

Bring a separate pot of water to a boil. Add the rice vermicelli and cook according to the package instructions (typically 3–5 minutes).

Drain and immediately transfer the noodles to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Once cooled, drain again and cut the noodles into 2.5 cm (1 inch) pieces using kitchen scissors.

In a shallow, freezer-safe dish, mix the cooled syrup with the chopped noodles. Place the dish in the freezer, uncovered, for 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes, use a fork to scrape the icy edges toward the center and gently stir. Return the dish to the freezer.

Repeat this scraping and stirring process every 45–60 minutes for about 3 hours, until you achieve a fluffy, granita-like texture.

Scoop the faloodeh into small bowls or glasses. Garnish with a squeeze of fresh lime juice, slivered pistachios, and a drizzle of sour cherry syrup, if desired. Serve immediately.