How to Serve Cut Ice Cream: A Maraş Table at Home

The sentence we hear most from customers opening Maraş ice cream blocks delivered by cargo is: 'The spoon won't go in!' This is not a flaw but a sign of properly made Maraş ice cream. Block ice cream is served with a knife, not a spoon. We have collected our masters' tips that you can easily apply at home.

The right temperature

Home freezers usually run between -18 °C and -22 °C. At this temperature Maraş ice cream is very hard. Take the block out of the freezer 8–10 minutes before serving and leave it on the counter. In summer this drops to 5–6 minutes. When the edges start to shine slightly, it is ready to cut.

Cutting technique

• Use a long, sharp, straight-edged knife; a serrated bread knife tears the texture.
• Dip the knife in hot water and wipe it before every cut.
• Slice the block along its long side, 1.5–2 cm thick.
• Transfer the slice to the plate on the flat of the knife.

On the plate

In Maraş ice cream is usually served as two slices of different flavours side by side: plain cream and pistachio, or plain cream and black mulberry. You can sprinkle coarsely crushed Antep pistachios on top. Do not forget to serve it with a fork and dessert knife.

Hot and cold pairings

Maraş ice cream's favourite partners are warm desserts. The temperature contrast, combined with the slow melting of the ice cream, gives a different texture with every bite:

• Semolina halva: Buttery pistachio halva with plain cream is the classic pair.
• Pistachio baklava: A contribution from our neighbour Gaziantep; a slice of plain cream balances the syrup.
• Milk kadayif: Light and creamy; it goes very well with mastic ice cream.
• Künefe: A thin slice of plain cream beside hot cheese künefe.

Storing leftover ice cream

Put the lid back on the cut block straight away and return it to the freezer. Pressing cling film onto the cut surface prevents frosting. Rather than taking the block in and out repeatedly, for big tables it is better to cut all the slices at once and share them out.

How many people does a block serve?

A 1 kg block gives about 10–12 slices 1.5–2 cm thick. If you serve two slices per plate, one block serves 5–6 people; as a single slice beside a dessert, it serves 10–12. For big tables, take the blocks out two at a time and keep one in the freezer while you cut the other, so the last slices stay as firm as the first.

One last tip

Serve the ice cream with a glass of water and a Turkish coffee. The slight bitterness of the coffee with the milky sweetness of the ice cream is the well-known end of a Maraş meal.