Bouza is a delightful and traditional Arabic/Egyptian/Middle Eastern ice cream spiked with mastic and rose water and studded with chewy, chopped dry apricots and crunchy toasted pistachios.

Disclaimer:Chez Nermine blog is an Amazon Associate. We earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. Our commission doesn’t affect the price of the product you purchase.

Bouza, or mastic-pistachio ice cream cake, is my favorite flavor of all time! It takes me back to Heliopolis (a cosmopolitan neighborhood in Cairo) and my delightful summer night strolls with friends that usually end with savoring Bouza at Koueider. Koueider, a flagship brand founded in 1930 by Abdel Rahim Koueider’s father, specializes in high-quality Middle Eastern sweets. For close to one century, Koueider has been celebrated for its authentic taste and famous for its creamy Bouza (Arabic Mastic-Pistachios ice cream).

Bouza Ingredients 

• Vanilla Ice Cream 

Using high-quality store-bought vanilla ice cream is a great way to save time while ensuring your dessert tastes delicious. Opting for the best quality ice cream you can afford is crucial, as it enhances the overall flavor and texture of your dish.

This approach allows you to enjoy a rich and creamy dessert without the additional effort of making ice cream from scratch.

• Mastic 

Mastic is a resin obtained from the mastic tree (Pistacia lentiscus), primarily grown on the Greek island of Chios. Known for its distinct aroma and therapeutic properties, mastic is used in various culinary and medicinal applications.

To use mastic in this recipe, start by freezing the mastic resin to make it easier to handle. Once frozen, mix it with sugar and crush it using a mortar and pestle until it becomes a fine powder. This process ensures that the mastic incorporates smoothly into the vanilla ice cream, enhancing its flavor with the resin’s unique aromatic profile.

• Pistachios 

Pistachios play a crucial role in Arabic, Middle Eastern, and Egyptian desserts in general and in this ice cream dessert specifically, adding a burst of color and crunch to dishes. Whether as a garnish or a main ingredient, these toasted gems elevate the creaminess of ice cream, bringing a rich, nutty flavor to both sweet and savory recipes. Versatile and essential, pistachios are a must-have for traditional culinary creations.

• Dry Apricots

Dry Apricots are a delightful addition to any dish, offering a chewy texture, tangy flavor, and a beautiful hue to this traditional ice cream.

• Rose Water 

Rose water is a Middle Eastern pantry staple and a fragrant liquid made by steeping rose petals in water. In this recipe, rose water is added to the booze to infuse it with a floral note that will tantalize your senses.

• Recipe Variations & Substitutions 

You can remove the dry apricots if it is not your cup of tea and replace them with any dry fruits of your choice, such as dates or figs.

How to Make Bouza Ice Cream Cake 

You can watch a fun tutorial video on how to make this cake on my IG page @cheznermine.

Step 1: Prepare the Ice Cream

Grab a 1/2 gallon of an excellent vanilla ice cream and let it sit outside the fridge to soften. In the meantime, prepare the ice cream mold.

Step 2: Prepare the Ice Cream Mold 

Spray a rectangular cake pan with some vegetable oil and then line it with Plastic Stretch Tite, leaving 3 inches hanging outside the pan to fold them inward later.

Step 3: Assemble the Ice Cream Cake 

Mix the softened ice cream cake with the chopped dry apricots, crushed mastic, and rose water. Transfer half the quantity to the mold, sprinkle over it a generous layer of crushed pistachios, and add on top the rest of the ice cream mixture. Smoothen the surface, fold inward the hanging stretch tight, and cover the mold tightly. Freeze the ice cream for at least 3 hours or overnight.

Step 4: Garnish & Serve 

Get out the Bouza from the freezer, remove the foil, and unfold the stretch tite. Invert the Bouza over a suitable dish. Garnish the surface with dehydrated roses and pistachios.

More Ice Cream Recipes on my Blog  

• Dalgona Ice Cream 
• Alaska Ice Cream 

Never Miss an Egyptian Recipe 

Subscribe here to my blog, Chez Nermine, to receive authentic Egyptian recipes in your inbox. We promise to email you only high-quality content. For fun tutorial food videos, follow IG @cheznermine & Facebook page: Chez Nermine Page