Gadbad Ghotala

When I mentioned Gadbad icecreams in my previous post, the first comment I got was "What is Gadbad icecream"? I went "Whaaa?", then I realized that it must be an exclusively South, maybe exclusively Karnataka ice-cream. Gadbad deserves more publicity ;) This post is dedicated to just that!

Gadbad icecream is a delicious hotchpotch of different ice-cream flavours, fruits and nuts. It is served in a tall transparent glass and served with a long spoon so that you can really dig into it. Every spoonful of heaven tickles your taste-buds and awakens your senses, and with each swallow, you get closer to Nirvana.

This delectable concoction was apparently first whipped up in Hotel Diana in Udupi. Of course, once people got a taste of it, they flocked to the parlour and its fame spread - and how! For me, Udupi evokes only two images - The temple of Krishna and Gadbad of Diana. (not necessarily in the same order ;))

Now of course, most of the self-respecting ice-cream parlours (at least in Karnataka) serve their own versions of Gadbad icecream. MTR has come up with packed Gadbad icecreams too! Of course, in no way does it do justice to the original one, but it will have to do when you can't get to the original!

You can make your own Gadbad! Here is how!

Ingredients -

At least three of your favourite flavours of icecream. - e.g. Vanilla, butterscotch, Kesar-badam
Cut fruits - (Apple, pineapple, banana, strawberries, and anything else you can lay your hands on)
Nuts - broken cashew, sliced almonds
Raisins
Strawberry Jelly.
Optional - cherry to top/chocolate sauce.

Method -

Take a tall transparent glass. The larger and taller, the better (It will hold more icecream ;))Put a layer of about half an inch of jelly at the bottom of the class. Pour one scoop of one flavour, say butterscotch on this. Be careful about it, make sure it does not mix with the jelly. It has to fall in layers. Over this, place a layer of nuts and raisins. One more scoop of icecream, say vanilla goes over this. Another layer of jelly. Now put a thick layer of fruits over this. Add some more nuts and raisins if your glass is tall enough. Top it off with a huge scoop of your favourite icecream, say Kesar-badam. This scoop should stand over the glass, like a kind of dome. It should look ready to melt and spill down the sides of the glass.

[Optional - You can sprinkle some more nuts over it., and if you like cherries, add a bright red cherry on top. You can even add chocolate sauce, if you are so inclined.]
Now get a long enough spoon, and DIG in.

NOTE: Gadbad is NOT to be eaten layer by layer. You just have to delve into it and make sure that you get all kinds of flavours and fruits and nuts in a single spoon.

FAQ: In that case, why place it layer by layer? Why not mix it all in a big bowl and fill the glass with it?
ANS: Looks, looks. Half of the attraction of Gadbad is in the way it LOOKS.

Best time to have it : When you are hungry. It's almost a full meal!

Enjoy your Gadbad!