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Bici bici
Rosewater starch jelly with ice
Bici bici: Adana's summer bowl of rosewater starch jelly, shaved ice and syrup
When Adana's July heat pushes past 40 °C, handcarts on every corner serve bici bici: cubes of wobbly starch jelly piled with shaved ice, splashed with rose syrup and dusted with icing sugar. Children eat it in the shade of the clock tower; grown-ups claim it is the only thing that works in that heat. The jelly is just cornflour, water and a little sugar, set and cut into cubes. The usual mistake is undercooking it, which leaves a cloudy, floury jelly that won't hold a cut. Chef's tip: freeze water in a shallow tray and scrape it with a fork for snowy ice if you have no ice shaver.
- Total time
- 25 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the rose syrup
- 5 ½ oz sugar
- ½ cup water
- 1 tbsp rosewater
- 1 tsp beetroot or pomegranate juice (optional)for a pink colour
To serve
- 14 oz crushed or shaved ice
- 2 tbsp icing sugar
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Method
0/5 doneStep 2: Cook over a medium heat, stirring constantly, for 6–8 minutes, until it turns from milky to clear and very thick. Keep stirring for 1 more minute after it clears.
8 minStep 3: Pour into a wetted 20 cm square dish, cool, then chill for 2 hours, until firm. Cut into 1.5 cm cubes.
120 minStep 4: Boil 5 ½ oz sugar and ½ cup water for 3 minutes, then stir in 1 tbsp rosewater and 1 tsp beetroot or pomegranate juice if using. Chill.
3 minStep 5: Divide the jelly cubes between bowls, heap 14 oz crushed or shaved ice on top, pour over the rose syrup and sift over 2 tbsp icing sugar. Eat at once.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 240 kcal
- Protein
- 0 g
- Carbs
- 60 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does bici bici take?
- About 25 minutes in total: 15 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 vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- 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 cornflour?
- Arrowroot or potato starch, same amount.
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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