Falooda is a popular cold beverage made by mixing rose syrup with vermicelli and basil seeds along with milk and topped with ice cream. The vermicelli used is often made from arrowroot, which is available in Asian grocery stores, however you can substitute it with rice vermicelli.
I have fond childhood memories of Falooda; as after our exams our parents used to always treat us with a “Badshah” Falooda; and that was something that my siblings and I used to anxiously wait for.
This is no-where compared to the Badshah Falooda; but is a poor home-made substitute. Please do try it out…mark my words; your kids are going to love it.
Ingredients : 4 cups cold milk, 3 tablespoons sugar, ½ cup basil seeds/sabja seeds soaked in water, vermicelli (either from rice or arrowroot), 3 tablespoons rose syrup (or more), 3 big scoops of vanilla icecream, cherry or nuts for topping, 1 packet of raspberry jelly (made as per instructions in packet and set till firm).
Chill the milk in the refrigerator. When nice and cold add sugar and rose syrup, mix and chill again till serving time. Boil vermicelli in two cups of water till soft. When done drain water and add cold water; to avoid overcooking. Run a fork through the vermicelli and ensure that they are separate and not clumped together. Add a little rose syrup (or some zaffran) and sugar and chill in the refrigerator. Take a tall glass, add jelly at the bottom, some vermicelli and soaked plump basil seeds. Fill the glass till ¾ full with chilled milk. Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, drizzle with a little rose syrup (optional) and add a cherry or nuts on it. Serve immediately before the ice cream melts.
The men/boys in our house prefer to have their Falooda in chubby ‘Beer Mugs’; while the lone lady, who has a problem with weight always, opts for the slim and slender glass. That she quietly has a second helping is what only few know 
;);)……shhhhhhhh!
Gadbad
Hey Judybai, this was one of the treats Mom always ensured I had on our limited shopping sprees when I was a wee slip of a girl ! Surely will try this one this weekend……
Kya Gadbad bhai ? Did you try it …whats the verdict ?
Judy….. loved it. Will try it for the girls and let you know. Made falooda to celebrate India’s jeet??
Joyce …did you try it lazy bones ? Tera homework is getting ready now
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i’ve this obsessive thing of not looking at the recipe in your blog…jus the click and then i reply…which i never normally do…i generally save the recipes in generic folders!!
such a beautiful pink to drink! i liked the second click the most…but i generally like simple clicks with least props.
has judy left?
Whats this Ginza..you dont read the recipe..tch tch….. I’ll try and reduce my prop-ka sahara…but…but..but….:)
Hi. first time to your site. What a great idea. I am going to try this for my boys!!
Thank you Suzy. Do let us know how your boys liked it.
awesome and tempting
Thank you Ila.
it’s so hot here and i’m mighty tempted to try this out. but basil seeds?? khus khus are they? remember the feel of those transparent beads in falooda i had long time back. rose syrup i can get hold of. the rest all is here.
bon voyage judy and welcome to the Indian summer, heat and dust!!
OMG Basil seeda are not Khus-khus dear. Go to any of the Asian Stores- say sabja seeds or Falooda Seeds and they will know what you mean. They come in different sizes- at least I saw three types here in UAE. For your easy reference attach herewith a link which which show you what exactly are sabja seeds.
looking forward to the break…pity I wont be meeting up with you; but there is always a next time 
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http://www.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&tbs=isch:1&q=basil+seeds&revid=1315632554&sa=X&ei=4vaWTZP6LpSA4Qbl-_CSDA&ved=0CDMQ1QIoAA&biw=984&bih=579
i saw those images…kottayam stores might have it…i cant hunt around in this heat…oh judy i could kill for a bigger than beer mug of that. it’s terribly hot here…when will someone ever make sth tht i want? it’s always me making for others or for myself…my mum in law would have helped me. she in dubai now.
oh priya msged me…asking you to feel free to call up any time for the way.
And hey….got the msg from Priya ..thanks. Sent her a thank-you msg. Will call her if possible on my way back.
i’m only expecting a lil summer cool down…anyway alice has done potty now and i cant expect anyone else to clean it up
signing off…tc and have a good time!
i’ll sms priya.
i’m making this. waiting for the ice cream to come. i soaked half cup basil seeds which came to one big pot!!! didn know it was half cup “soaked basil seed”
wow i just love this it is so tasty and yummy