Malai: Frozen Desserts Inspired by South Asian Flavors

A celebration of South Asian flavors by Pooja Bavishi, the founder of acclaimed Malai ice cream.

Learn to create frozen desserts at home with this first-of-its-kind South Asian-inspired ice cream cookbook.

Bavishi shares the secrets behind Malai's beloved flavors, including Rose with Cinnamon Roasted Almonds, Mango & Cream, and Coffee Cardamom. Discover how to make their famous Orange Fennel French Toast and Parle-G Masala Chai Ice Cream Sandwiches.

From ice cream bars and cones to pies, cakes, and cookies, this storied collection of 100 recipes will transform your at-home desserts with sweet, spiced, and flavorful frozen treats.

INSPIRED STORY: A delicious exploration where personal stories and cherished flavor memories are woven into every recipe.

ACCESSIBLE RECIPES & EXPERTISE: The recipes are simple to follow, making it easy to create high-quality ice creams and frozen desserts at home, with tips on essential tools and ingredients for consistently delicious results.

UNIQUE FLAVOR COMBOS: Each recipe features the vibrant flavors and ingredients of South Asian cuisine, showcasing Malai's signature repertoire--cardamom, rose, almond, pepper, mango, chai, orange, lychee, fennel, and saffron.

SWEETS FOR ANY OCCASION: From dairy and dairy-free ice creams to frozen treats, cakes, baked goods, toppings, and sauces, this robust collection of 100 recipes has something for every craving.

Author: Pooja Bavishi
Publisher: Weldon Owen
Published: 04/08/2025
Pages: 224
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 2.65lbs
Size: 10.10h x 8.30w x 1.10d
ISBN: 9798886741872


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 04/21/2025

About the Author
Pooja Bavishi is the founder and CEO of Malai, an acclaimed New York-based ice cream company and scoop shop specializing in innovative flavors infused with traditional South Asian ingredients. Inspired by the spices of her childhood--ginger, rose petals, fennel, saffron, and cardamom--Pooja opened Malai in 2015 to offer a unique ice cream experience that blends her rich culinary heritage with everyone's favorite frozen dessert. The success of Malai soon led to other accomplishments. She won the Food Network's Chopped Sweets competition in March 2020, was recognized as one of Inc. magazine's Female Founders 100 in October 2020, and was named a Tory Burch Foundation Fellow in 2018. Pooja holds a BA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an MS from the London School of Economics, and an MBA from NYU's Stern School of Business.

Founded in 2015 by Pooja Bavishi, Malai is a Brooklyn-based company revolutionizing the ice cream experience by using vibrant South Asian spices and ingredients as a nod to Pooja's first generation Indian-American upbringing. Malai's ice creams are innovative and celebrated for their robust flavors and creamy textures, offering an indulgence that is both nostalgic and unique.

Malai's treats are always eggless, sometimes vegan, and come in a variety of delightful forms: ice cream, kulfi pops, ice cream cakes, and ice cream sandos.

From scoop shops in NYC and DC to nationwide shipping and select grocery store availability across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, Malai is making its mark.