Haldiram’s, the iconic name in Indian sweets and snacks, has unveiled a new dessert range at its flagship Leicester Square restaurant, bringing together familiar flavours and unexpected formats in a series of highly developed, original creations.
Indian dessert classics are given a distinctly contemporary twist. The result is a collection designed to feel both new and familiar – offering something unexpected for Londoners and visitors while retaining the flavours and memories at the heart of each dish.
Hooked on classics
Haldiram’s asked the question: what happens when traditional South Asian dessert formats meet the flavours, ingredients and techniques of today?
The answer can be found in dishes such as the Gulab Jamun Churros with Rabri, transforming one of India’s most recognisable sweets into a crisp churro format, served with fragrant syrup and chilled, creamy rabri. The result is a familiar Indian flavour profile in an unexpected Spanish form.
Other creations include Gajar Halwa Spring Rolls, pairing the warm, fragrant richness of gajar halwa with crisp pastry, creamy vanilla ice cream and sweet white chocolate for a playful contrast of temperature, texture and flavour.
And a Chai Affogato – the creamy coolness of vanilla ice cream with the warmth and aromatic spice of chai gives the classic Italian affogato a distinctly Indian twist.
Development, from first idea to final garnish
Each dessert has been through an extensive process of research and development, with plenty of testing, tweaking and refining before earning its place on the final menu. Every element has been carefully considered – from the core recipe and balance of flavours to texture, portioning, plating and that all-important final garnish.
The aim wasn’t simply to take a traditional ingredient and give it an unexpected spin, but to create dishes where all the influences work naturally together. The result is a menu that feels original without being alienating, and contemporary without losing the familiarity and comfort that make classic desserts so appealing.
Rhea Agarwal, Haldiram’s Commercial Director UK & EU, said: “The best desserts are always playful and fun. India has a wonderful dessert culture and we wanted to celebrate those flavours and traditions while reflecting the way London brings different cultures together. The idea isn’t to Westernise Indian desserts, but to create a conversation between Indian flavours and familiar dessert formats. Our chefs loved this project – and we hope our customers are going to adore them, too.”
The new dessert range comprises:
- Gulab Jamun Churros with Rabri – a playful reinterpretation of gulab jamun, transformed into crisp churros with fragrant syrup notes and chilled, creamy rabri.
- Gajar Halwa Spring Rolls – crisp spring rolls filled with warm gajar halwa and melted white chocolate, served with vanilla ice cream.
- Chai Affogato – a contemporary Indian take on the classic Italian affogato, pairing creamy vanilla ice cream with warm, aromatic spiced tea.
The new desserts are available at Haldiram’s Leicester Square restaurant.
