Dish

Dondurma

Dondurma is a Turkish ice cream made with milk, sugar, and salep, a flour made from the tubers of wild orchids. Salep gives dondurma its unique texture, which is chewy and stretchy. The mixture is heated and stirred until it thickens, and then it is cooled and churned in an ice cream maker. Dondurma is typically flavored with mastic, a resin that is extracted from the bark of the mastic tree, which gives it a sweet and slightly piney flavor. Dondurma is a popular dessert in Turkey and is often served with Turkish coffee or tea.

Asian cuisine› Arab cuisine› Turkish cuisine

Dessert› Frozen Dessert› Ice Cream

Origins and history

Dondurma has been a popular dessert in Turkey for centuries and is believed to have originated in the city of Maraş. It was traditionally made with salep, which was abundant in the region, but today it is made with a combination of salep and other thickeners. Dondurma is often sold by street vendors who perform tricks with the ice cream, such as flipping it upside down without it falling out of the cone.

Dietary considerations

Dondurma contains milk and sugar, so it is not suitable for those who are lactose intolerant or have a milk allergy. It may also contain gluten if wheat flour is used as a thickener instead of salep.

Variations

There are many variations of dondurma, including flavors like pistachio, chocolate, and strawberry. Some versions also include nuts or dried fruit.

Presentation and garnishing

Dondurma is typically served in a cone or on a stick and is often garnished with chopped nuts or dried fruit. It is also sometimes served with a drizzle of honey or a sprinkle of cinnamon. To get the signature stretchy texture of dondurma, it is important to use salep or another thickener that will give it a similar consistency. It is also important to stir the mixture constantly while it is cooking to prevent lumps from forming.

Tips & Tricks

When eating dondurma, it is traditional to stretch and pull the ice cream before taking a bite. This is because the salep in the ice cream gives it a unique elasticity that allows it to be stretched without breaking. Additionally, dondurma should be served slightly softer than traditional ice cream to allow for easier stretching.

Side-dishes

Dondurma is typically served as a dessert on its own, but it can also be paired with a sweet dessert wine like Muscat or a light beer like Efes Pilsen.

Drink pairings

Dondurma is often served with Turkish coffee or tea, but it can also be paired with a sweet dessert wine like Muscat or a light beer like Efes Pilsen.