Rose Pudding Recipe

Rose Pudding, a delicious set pudding made with milk, rose extract, sugar, condensed milk and agar agar. Traditionally this pudding is made during Ramadan and it taste like rose milk. Rose milk pudding recipe is similar to my china grass pudding or mango pudding which uses agar agar as setting agent. Learn how to make rose pudding with step by step pictures and video. 

Rose Pudding

You all know i love puddings. They are not only fun to make, but it taste really delicious. It makes you feel like a kid again. Since Ramadan is on its way, this pudding will be great addition to your Iftar table. It is very simple to make as well.

About Rose Pudding

Rose pudding is a delicious set dessert made with milk, sugar, agar agar and rose extract. The pudding is completely vegetarian because the pudding is made to set using agar agar which is a vegetarian setting agent. But you can easily swap it for gelatin, check my notes section on how to use gelatin. Since it is very easy to make people like to make it for their Iftar spread.

Like all pudding this is made with milk, sugar and rose extract for flavouring. In addition to sugar, I like to add some sweetened condensed milk which makes the pudding mixture creamy which results in a silky china grass pudding. For flavouring the pudding I used rose milk extract which already has the pink colour and rose flavour. But you can optionally use some clear rose extract and pink food colouring. If you don’t prefer to use rose milk extract, you can swap it with my natural rose milk syrup made with beetroots. 

China grass or agar agar is a natural coolant for the body. In this recipe you can use agar agar strips or powder. Personally I find powder is easy to use and melts faster. But I have mentioned method for using both in this post. 

Similar recipes

Vanilla pudding

Mango pudding

Caramel pudding

Bread pudding 

Eggless caramel custard 

Watch Rose Pudding Video

Rose Pudding Ingredients

Milk - use full fat milk for making rose milk. Low fat milk is not preferred because it will result in non-creamy pudding. Instead of regular milk, you can use almond milk for vegan option. 

Sugar - adjust the sugar quantity as per your taste. You can add more or less as per your liking. You cannot use jaggery or brown sugar in this pudding, since it will affect the colour as well as make the milk curdle. 

Agar Agar Powder - China grass also known as agar agar. It is vegetarian setting agent popularly used in making puddings, jelly and set desert. In this recipe, you can use agar agar strips or powdered Agar. I have mentioned method for both. 

Sweetened Condensed Milk - even though condensed milk is optional, it adds a creamy texture to the pudding mixture which results in a silky custard. You can use vegan coconut condensed milk.  Check my homemade condensed milk.

Rose Milk Extract - For flavouring the pudding I used rose milk extract which already has the pink colour and rose flavour. But you can optionally use some clear rose extract and pink food colouring. If you don’t prefer to use rose milk extract, you can swap it with my natural rose milk syrup made with beetroots. 

Optional - ingredients like chopped nuts, rose petals can be used for garnishing the pudding. 

How to You Make Rose Pudding Better

Rose Pudding may seem like a very basic recipe. But actually you can elevate it to a whole new level. Here are few of my ideas on how you can alter this recipe and make it a dinner party worth of dessert.

Instead of making rose milk extract with the milk. You can pour the milk agar agar mixture in individual ramekins or a martini glass and allow them to set.

Make a compote with rose petals and sugar with some rose water added and top the pudding with this mixture. You can even use gulkand in this to elevate the rose flavour. This type of dessert is most popular in Middle East.

If you are into rose flavoured recipes, check out my rose phirni, rose falooda & gulkand kulfi.

Agar-Agar vs Gelatin 

Agar Agar - Agar agar is completely plant based gelatin derived from seaweed. It is a vegan product used in sweets and dessert. Many asian pudding and jelly uses agar agar as main ingredient. You can easily find agar agar powder online. I use this brand of agar agar powder.

Gelatin - Gelatin or gelatine is a translucent, colorless, flavorless thickening ingredient, derived from collagen taken from animal body parts. Usually it is used to set pudding, jelly and many desserts. This is one of the main ingredient in making gummy bears and candies. 

Can we use gelatin in china grass pudding?

This recipe for rose pudding is made using agar agar. I used powdered agar agar for easy measurement and convenient. But if you prefer using gelatin, you can easily substitute agar agar with gelatin. The pudding will still turn out great. 

How to use gelatin in this pudding

• Take 2 tsp of gelatin in a bowl. Add in ¼ cup of cold water. Mix it really well and set aside for 10 minutes.
• After 10 minutes the gelatin must have absorbed all the water and bloomed. 
• Now add the bloomed gelatin in a sauce pan and heat on low heat. The gelatin will melt into a clear liquid.
• Now proceed with the recipe as usual. 

Variations

Vanilla Agar Agar Pudding - this delicious pudding is made with milk, agar agar and sugar. It has predominant flavour of vanilla.

China Grass Pudding - using coconut milk as the base, it is also known as kadal paasi.

Vanilla & Chocolate Pudding - the pudding is set in individual serving glass. it has vanilla and chocolate custard added in layers.

Chocolate Pudding - decadent pudding made with chocolate flavour.

Tender Coconut Pudding - elaneer is added in the mixture which makes the refreshing summer dessert.

How to Use China Grass | Agar Agar Strips

For making puddings you use china grass or agar agar. Agar agar comes in different forms like sheets, strips and powder. Agar agar strips is the most commonly used form in making puddings and jellies.

I find agar agar powder more convenient because Agar agar strips takes times to melt into the pudding. Also you have to use very little agar agar powder for strips.

If you only have a china grass strips, this is how you use it. I have made this pudding recipe both with strips and powder. Both turn out equally good.

How to Use

1) You will need 5 grams of agar agar strips for 500 ml of liquid. That is the measurement. Break agar agar into small pieces and add them to a sauce pan. Pour ½ cup of water over the strips and let them soak for 10 to 15 minutes for the strips to soften. You can rub them with your fingers to mash them even smaller.

Heat them on low heat so they can melt. Heat them on a low heat. This will take a good 10 to 15 mins or so. Once it is completely melted you can add them in your pudding mixture ad mentioned in the recipe.

How to Make Rose Pudding (Stepwise Pictures)

Melting Agar Agar Powder

1)Take ½ cup water in a sauce pan. I am using cold water and not hot water. This is to melt the agar agar powder.

2)Add in 5 grams of agar agar powder. It is around 2 tsp of agar agar powder.Once the powder is added, mix it gently into the water and then place it on heat.

3)keep mixing this constantly and bring it to a full boil. The mixture should be clear and the agar agar should all be melted.

Making Pudding Mix

4)Add in ½ cup of sugar into the agar agar mixture.

5)Once sugar is added, cook on low medium heat till sugar is completely melted. It wont take long at all. Just few seconds of stirring it in the hot liquid is enough to melt the agar agar.

6)Pour in the sweetened condensed milk into the agar agar sugar mixture.

7)Stir until the condensed milk is evenly melted.

8)Now add in the milk. Once milk is added mix it really well and bring it to a boil. Keep mixing it at this point.

9)Add in rose milk extract. Just few drops is enough.

10)Mix it really well and bring it to a boil.

11)You can see the mixture has started boiling. Once it has reached this step, take it off the heat.

Setting the Pudding

12)Pour the rose milk mixture into individual serving moulds or transfer it to a glass baking dish.

China grass pudding sets at room temperature, so allow the pudding to sit for 30 minutes on the countertop and then transfer it to fridge for few hours.

13)After few hours in the fridge the pudding is set and chilled.

Un moulding Rose Pudding

14)You can cut the rose pudding into small pieces in the baking tray.

15)And serve as it is or make it into a sago rose drink. (Recipe below)

16)For un moulding puddings from the mould. Gently dip it in hot water and then un mould on a serving plate.

17)Enjoy.

Rose Sago Drink (using leftover rose pudding)

By any chance if you have end up with leftover rose pudding. You can easily transform the pudding into this rose sago drink. The idea for this recipe is from my dessert soup and fruit cocktail salad.

It is relatively easy to make too. All you have to do is make a batch of rose milk. Add in some cooked sago, soaked chia seeds or sabja seeds and chopped rose pudding. Mix it all up and refrigerate for few hours. Serve cold.

For detailed recipe, you check my Rose Sago Drink Video.

How to Make Rose Pudding Sago Drink

1)I made a batch of rose milk. It is nothing but milk boiled with sugar for 5 minutes. Let it cool down, then mix in few drops of rose milk extract. Take the rose milk in a bowl.

This is how I cook sago pearls. Bring 3 cups of water to a full boil in a sauce pan. Add in ¼ cup to ½ cup of sago into the boiling water. Mix it really well with a ladle. Lower the flame and cook for 10 minutes until the sago turns translucent. Cover the sauce pan with a lid and take it off the heat. Let it sit for 10 minutes. Now strain the sago mix in a strainer and rinse under cold water till it gets completely cold. Thats it.

Add in the cooked sago into the rose milk. Mix well.

2)Add in soaked sabja seeds. I soaked 1 tbsp of sabja in ¼ cup of cold water for 10 minutes. Add sabja into the rose milk. Instead of sabja, you can add chia seeds or totally skip this step. Add in cut up rose pudding cubes.

3)Mix it well and serve cold. The longer it sits in the fridge the thicker it will get. Serve cold.

Expert Tips

• Don’t use too much agar agar else the pudding may turn out hard in texture.
• Once milk is added, cook this in low heat so the milk doesn’t curdle. 
• If you prefer, you can add some rose petal jam (gulkand) as garnish.
• Agar agar or China grass sets at room temperature. But this pudding taste best when served chilled. So keep in fridge for few hours before serving. 

FAQ

How much china grass to use?

For every 500 ml of liquid you need 5 grams of china grass or agar agar.

Is china grass healthy?

Kadal paasi is also called as china grass or agar agar in english and it is used as a vegetarian substitute for gelatin. It will help to set the pudding like a jelly. This recipe is very good for health and the best body coolant in summer. 

How to use china grass in pudding?

You can use china grass strips or powder in pudding. Melt the china grass in water till it is completely dissolved and mix with milk or coconut milk.

More Pudding Recipes

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