UrbanWire

Ice cream is too common, gelato is too pricey. So why not revel in the unique taste of khulfi, an Indian ice-cream that promises to douse your taste buds, especially after a hot and spicy Indian meal?

Khlfi is a rich and creamy North Indian dessert prepared by first boiling milk and leaving it to thicken. The milk is then frozen with saffron flavouring, cardamom seeds and ground pistachio nuts. Khulfi comes in a variety of flavours such as mango, pistachio, strawberry and almond.

The Khulfi Bar at Little India will leave you spoiled for choice, with their huge array of desserts that includes more than 10 varieties of their popular khulfi. The cool hide out which opened last December at Upper Dickson Road caters to those who rather savour Indian desserts away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

The Place
It Float and Shakes
Melts in your mouth, not in your hands!
Healthy Eating = Healthy Living
Recommendation
The Verdict
Opening Hours
Traveling There
Try it in your own kitchen

While the al fresco area looks like any resort-themed café with its warm and inviting bright yellow umbrellas atop tables, its interior creates an unperturbed mood enlivened by classical and new-age Indian music. The bar's upmarket and comfortable atmosphere is an attraction by itself.

The architecture and furniture at the bar are designed to suit healthy living. You'll be left admiring the décor of simple hand-loomed fabrics from India , the antique bronze metal tables and their copper utensils. The use of metal craft has always been an integral part of Indian culture as it is widely believed that every metal has its own spiritual and healing strengths.

The tassel-bound menu cards, with their intricate gold and red motifs, very much emulate typical Indian wedding cards.

Mrs Elizabeth Kruso, 52, a tourist from Sweden , says, “It is always good to experience something traditional and exotic when it comes to food.” Her friend, Mrs Sylvia Thomsen, 45, who enjoyed a glass of Mango and Kiwi Blend ($6.90), goes on to describe the place as being “traditional with a modern touch”.

However, the icing to this elegant locale are its Indian desserts, which won't disappoint. The extensive menu of Indian desserts offers, on top of more than 10 khulfi items, a variety of homemade Indian shakes and blendies, light snacks and classic Indian beverages.

According to Mr M. Daswani, the owner of the dessert bar, the all-time favourite on the menu is the Asli Khulfi ($4.90) – a rich delicious original khulfi traditionally frozen into aluminium cone moulds and garnished with ground pistachios and almonds. He adds, “pistachio is THE seller for khulfis”.

If all you've ever had are root beer floats, you really should try the Khulfi Float ($5.90). Thick and fluffy with your choice of sweet mango or peach pieces, it consists of blended khulfi , which gives it a smoother texture. The float is served in a huge glass.

Homemade Indian shakes are healthy blends of the finest almonds, low-fat milk, yogurt and Ayurvedic honey. The pleasurable lychee shake ($6.90) is a must-have for those in search for something sweet with subtle flavours.

The Jelly Sandwich Khulfi ($4.90) and M&M Khulfi ($4.90), fusion desserts, if you like, serve as favourites among kids and especially those with a sweet tooth.

If you can't decide what to order, you can ask the staff for recommendations. For those who are worried about the amount of spices used, worry not. The desserts at Khulfi Bar should be a hit with just about any palate.

Healthy Eating = Healthy Living

Mr Daswani says that the concept of Khulfi Bar is based on the notion of “healthy living”, where every ingredient is carefully chosen for its health purpose. White refined sugar is strictly omitted in all his items as he considers it to be “a slow poison which causes many health problems”.

True to his words, the place strikes a good balance between healthy eating and sinful indulgence.

The desserts are predominantly prepared with wholesome fruits and nuts that are rich in nutrients. The menu card greets you with a healthy message, “In Ayurveda , nuts are proven to be nutritionally rich in calcium and omega 3 oils which lower the risk of heart disease and also proves to be an excellent drink for the brain. At Khulfi Bar, our desserts do not contain artificial flavouring and colouring or white refined sugar, which are detrimental to health. So you are assured that you can enjoy your sinful desserts with comfort and style.”

Is khulfi less fattening than ice cream? Hold your breath and be thankful that the answer is a yes!

“Khulfi is generally rich in calcium,” adds Ms Sushila Devi, Manageress of Khulfi Bar. “Moreover, here we use low fat milk and yogurt for everything. We use Ayurvedic honey in all our desserts.” Ayurvedic honey, which is pure Indian honey, is a natural sweetener promising health and beauty benefits.

Other Recommendations

Mango and Kiwi Blend $6.90
(Keeps eyes and skin healthy. Rich in beta-carotene known for free-radical zapping properties in Vitamin A. Rich in iron)

Almond Milk $3.90

Pudina Tea (Authentic Indian Tea brewed with fresh mint leaves) $3.90

The Verdict

This is the only khulfi parlour in Singapore . But aside from the monopoly, the quality and nutrition of the items more than make up for the steep prices. There are plenty of items to choose from the list, so I suggest you bring along a friend to try out the variety of desserts. A fine place to cool yourself down after retail therapy at Little India.

Opening Hours
Weekdays: 11am to 10pm
Weekends and Public holidays: 11am to 10.30pm

Traveling there
The nearest MRT station is Little India.
SBS services: 23, 64, 65, 66, 56, 170, 130, 131, 139, 147, 166,
TIBS services: 851, 67

Note: No service charge

Khulfi makes a wonderful dessert for any occasion. Are you tempted to make your very own khulfi ? Rest assured that you needn't use any complicated ice-cream making device to whip up a mean khulfi .