Mahalabia (Lebanese Cardamom Pudding)

This delicious Lebanese milk pudding is flavored with cardamom, which gives it a unique taste. If you cannot find cardamom extract, let a few crushed cardamom pods steep in the hot milk for several minutes until fragrant.

• Preparation Time: 10 mins
• Cooking Time: 15 mins
• Total Time: 25 mins
• Calories: 214 Calories

Ingredients

• ¼ cup water
• ¼ cup white sugar
• 2 cups milk
• 5 tablespoons white sugar
• 6 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 drops cardamom-flavored extract
• ¼ vanilla bean, split lengthwise and seeds scraped
• ¼ cup unsalted pistachios, coarsely chopped
• 1 tablespoon dried rose petals, or as needed

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Combine 3/4 cup of the milk and cornstarch in a bowl and stir until smooth.

Step 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.

Step 3

Pour milk mixture into 5 ramekins, cover, and cool to room temperature. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours.

Step 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.