Silky, floral, and beautifully refreshing, this vegan malabi is an easy Middle Eastern dessert that feels both elegant and comforting. Made with creamy coconut milk and topped with fragrant strawberry rose syrup and bright pomegranate arils, it's naturally dairy-free, gluten-free, and perfect for warm-weather gatherings or special occasions. This simple Israeli pudding comes together with minimal effort but delivers a stunning dessert that's light, luscious, and full of delicate flavor.
Vegan malabi with strawberry rose syrup & pomegranate arils is lighter in calories and flavour than the original. It's also gluten-free, paleo and diabetic friendly. This recipe originally appeared on the Greeniche blog. I received monetary compensation in exchange for the recipe I developed for Greeniche. However, I am proud to only work with those companies whose products I truly love. And as always, all opinions expressed here are my own; you can always expect me to be honest with you guys!
Meet malabi, the ever-present dessert proffered by most street hawkers and food vendors in Israel. Its fans liken the taste of malabi to a garden of roses, gently perfumed without being overpowering. Its defectors scrunch their noses and claim it tastes like dish soap. But whatever camp you have fallen into in the past, I urge you to give my vegan malabi with strawberry rose syrup and pomegranate arils a try - as a former malabi hater, I can state with confidence that its delicate flavour and sweet aroma will make a malabi believer out of ya (sorry, I just couldn't help myself).
It's hard to go a metre at a typical Israeli souk without hearing the calls proclaiming fresh, homemade malabi. Its ubiquitous combination of snow white custard and rosy syrup is a sight for sore eyes and overheated brows, who welcome this dessert's cooling effect.
But traditional malabi is a deadly combination of heavy whole milk, cornstarch and obscene amounts of sugar. The rosy syrup floating on top is usually made with commercial food colouring, which no one needs, ever. Despite its misleading texture, it's actually one of the heaviest desserts you can have on a hot summer's day in Israel (except ice cream, but you gotta make exceptions). Most often, falling into temptation and purchasing said malabi from an Israeli street vendor will resort in stomach aches, blood sugar spikes and the need to take a long nap.
Thus enter my vegan malabi with strawberry rose syrup and pomegranate arils. Prepared on the basis of pure coconut milk, vegan malabi is much lighter in calories and flavour than its traditional dairy-laden cousin. In place of processed sugar, I sweeten my desert with coconut-flavoured stevia, thus highlighting its natural sweetness and lightness. For the syrup, I shun food colouring sugar and opt instead for strawberries and strawberry-flavoured stevia, which results in a beautiful and gently sweetened strawberry rose syrup.
(I am also interested in trying to top this malabi with elderflower cordial for a more exotic take).
And that, my friends, is how you get a dessert you can truly feel good about, on a hot summer's day or otherwise.
This vegan malabi with strawberry rose syrup and pomegranate arils is another take away from my latest endeavour, the 5 O'clock at the Oasis Rosh Hashana celebration.
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Looking for more Rosh Hashana Recipes and Inspiration?
Here are a few of my favourites:
- The best vegetarian Rosh Hashanah recipes
- Rosh Hashana menu, and my thoughts for the Jewish New Year
- How to decorate an intimate holiday table for a memorable experience
- Any of the 11 recipes in my Middle Eastern Small Plates E-book
- Almond apple cake with apple roses
- Enchanted rice with grapes, feta and pistachios, or the taste of teenage love
- Black eyed peas masabacha with tahini, tomatoes, garlic and hot peppers
- Roasted beet, apple and goat cheese salad with walnuts
Recipe
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Vegan malabi with sugar-free strawberry rose syrup
Ingredients
Vegan malabi:
- 1 cup coconut milk or cream
- 1 cup water
- 6 drops coconut Flavorall stevia drops
- 2-3 vanilla extract
- â…› teaspoon ground cardamom
- 2 tablespoon cornstarch dissolved in a little cold water (cornstarch should look like white syrup without any lumps)
- ½ teaspoon rose water
Sugar-free strawberry rose syrup:
- 1 cup ripe strawberries trimmed and cut in halves
- 4-6 drops strawberry Flavorall stevia drops depending on the sweetness of your berries, you may want to use more or less stevia
- ½ teaspoon rose water
Topping:
- Shredded coconut
- Chopped peanuts toasted
- Pomegranate arils
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine coconut milk/ cream with water. Set to heat on medium heat; when the liquid is hot to the touch, add cardamom, coconut Flavorall stevia drops and vanilla extract and stir.
- When liquid is boiling, lower heat gradually add in water-cornstarch mixture, constantly stirring. Stir for two minutes, taking care to avoid any lumps from forming.
- Immediately pour vegan malabi into small glasses or ice cream bowls. Let cool in refrigerator for at least one hour, and preferably several hours.
- Sugar-free strawberry rose syrup: in a blender, combine strawberries with stevia drops and rose water. Process until fully combined.
- To serve, top each glass of chilled vegan malabi with sugar-free strawberry rose syrup, and your choice of toppings.
