Bastani
A Persian ice cream flavored with saffron and rose water and studded with pistachios and small pieces of frozen cream.
- Frozen desserts and sweet beverages
- Iran
Also called: Bastani Sonnati, Bastani Sonnati Zaferani, Iranian ice cream, Persian ice cream, Saffron ice cream
Bastani sonnati, or traditional ice cream, is made from milk, sugar, egg yolks or cream, flavored with saffron for a golden color and with rose water for a floral perfume. Chopped pistachios are mixed in, along with flakes of frozen cream that give a rich, chewy contrast. Some recipes add salep, which makes the ice cream thicker and more stretchy.
Bastani is a beloved treat in Iran, often served between two thin wafers as a sandwich, or alongside faloodeh, a rice noodle sorbet. It is especially popular in summer and at Nowruz.
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Sources
Written by VanillaGoods in our own words from these sources. Last reviewed October 15, 2026.
- Bastani Sonati, University of Southern California (Scalar), Woman Life Freedom Uprising