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Alouda
Chilled milk drink with basil seeds
Port Louis's chilled milk drink with basil seeds and agar jelly
Alouda is the cold, sweet milk drink sold from stalls in the Port Louis central market and at beaches all over Mauritius, especially on hot afternoons. Vanilla- or rose-scented milk is poured over soaked tookmaria (sweet basil) seeds and cubes of agar jelly, and often topped with a scoop of ice cream. It is a cousin of the Indian falooda. Because the jelly is set with agar agar, it is vegetarian. Chef's tip: soak the basil seeds for a full 20 minutes until each one has a thick, clear coat; dry seeds stick in the throat.
- Total time
- 35 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the agar jelly
- ⅛ oz agar agar powder
- 1 ¼ cups water
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 drop a drop of red or pink food colouring (optional)
For the drink
- ¾ cup water
- 3 ¼ cups whole milkcold
- 4 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp rose water or almond essence (optional)
- 4 scoops vanilla ice cream (optional)
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Whisk ⅛ oz agar agar powder into 1 ¼ cups water in a small pan with 2 tbsp sugar and 1 drop a drop of red or pink food colouring. Bring to the boil, stirring, and boil for 2 minutes until fully dissolved.
4 minStep 2: Pour into a shallow dish and chill for 30 minutes until set. Cut into 1 cm cubes. Common mistake: not boiling the agar — it will not set.
30 minStep 3: Soak 2 tbsp sweet basil seeds (tookmaria) in ¾ cup water for 20 minutes until swollen with a clear coat.
20 minStep 4: Stir 4 tbsp sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract and ½ tsp rose water or almond essence into 3 ¼ cups whole milk until dissolved.
Step 5: Divide the jelly and drained seeds between tall glasses, pour over the milk and top with 4 scoops vanilla ice cream. Serve with a spoon and a wide straw.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 230 kcal
- Protein
- 8 g
- Carbs
- 34 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does alouda take?
- About 35 minutes in total: 25 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
- What can I use instead of whole milk?
- Semi-skimmed milk with 1 tbsp cream per 240ml (1 cup).
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