A taste of summer in the middle of winter: I’m saying yes to Bastani Sonnati!
Here the weather continues to be very cold, even freezing at times, and my body and mind are needing layers and layers of delicious comfort. After Pongal, I am continuing my dreaming of summer and my pursuit of culinary escapism with a sweet refreshing treat I am delighted to share with you today. It truly is one of the most luxurious desserts I have ever tried: Bastani Sonnati, also known as Persian saffron ice cream.
“Bastani sonnati, literally meaning traditional ice cream, is probably the oldest type of ice cream in Iran, and you can find it in every corner of every city, either sandwiched between two wafers or served in a cup, sometimes alongside faloodeh (Persian lime rose granita). Packed with pistachios, this ice cream is luscious, golden, and even a little luxurious to the western eye. Trust me, the flavor is out of this world!” (Shadi HasanzadeNemati, unicornsinthekitchen.com)
As Shadi HasanzadeNemati explains on her website, “It’s been said that ice cream was born in the Persian Empire around 500 BC in the form of ice combined with flavors as a summertime treat. So looks like our people have been into this sweet frozen treat for quite some time now. Saffron ice cream is the most traditional ice cream in Iran and is loved by millions around the world.”
I used Shadi’s Bastani Sonnati recipe, and the result was delicious, uniquely sophisticated sweet perfection ✨️ Crafted with exquisite Heray Spice saffron (which I reviewed before here, here and here), and studded with chopped pistachios and alluring layers of rose water and cardamom, this ice cream is an experience which attracts a myriad of thoughts and articulates a new universe of flavors. The saffron, the roses, and the cardamom shine brightly on a sweet, golden, creamy canvas, punctuated by palate-pleasing pistachios. The magic lingers on the palate, one final note of rose inviting you to enjoy the next spoonful and scoop, as time is standing still 🙂
I served Bastani Sonnati with tahini cookies, using another recipe I found on Shadi’s website. Featuring a tahini and walnut base delicately sweetened with honey, these cookies provided an exciting balance of grounded flavors to the exuberance of the ice cream. 
Do you have a favorite ice cream flavor? Let me know in the comments 🙂
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