Salep

Salep is a hot Turkish Wintertime drink made with sweetened milk thickened with glutinous rice flour, flavored with rose or orange blossom water, and garnished with cinnamon and finely chopped pistachios. It is warming, filling, exotically different and absolutely delicious.

In Turkey, Salep is thickened with the dried and powdered bulbs of a specific mountain orchid but over-harvesting has made it illegal to export the orchid salep powder.

Corn starch may also be used as a thickener but the finished product will not be as smooth and creamy.

Salep

Recipe adapted from Food and Tools

Ingredients:
Whole or low fat milk - Nut milks can be used for a non-dairy alternative

Amounts listed below are per cup of milk. Feel free to change the amounts of sugar and flavorings to taste.

1T glutinous rice flour - Available at any Asian mkt
1tsp sugar or honey (or to taste)
¼ tsp rose or orange blossom water

Garnish
Powdered Cinnamon
Finley chopped pistachio nuts

Pour milk into a saucepan and whisk in glutinous flour over medium heat
Whisk or stir continuously until thickened. This takes a few minutes.
When thickened, remove from heat, stir in sugar and flavored water of choice.
Pour into mugs or cups, dust with cinnamon, and sprinkle with chopped pistachios.