Gadbad Ice Cream-Mangalore’s Iconic Ice Cream Sundae

Last Updated on June 11, 2021 by Babita

Gadbad Ice Cream is an ice cream sundae arranged in a tall glass with three different flavors of ice cream and jello, fresh fruits, chopped nuts layered in between to give it some texture and accentuate the taste.

It is a classic, iconic ice cream dish originally from the Mangalore/Udipi area of Karnataka.

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My experience with Gadbad

When I was in the 9th grade, I went to Mangalore (Urru as we used to call our parents home town) for the first time. I fell in love with Urru, the countryside with its lush rice farms, coconut, and banana groves. As someone who grew up in Bombay, it was a welcome sight from all of the pollution and dirt.

It was during that trip my grandfather introduced me to Gadbad. As a child who loved to eat and who had a sweet tooth, I felt like I was in ice cream heaven. I had never had anything like that before. I think that is the reason those memories are still with me even today.

History of Gadbad Ice Cream

The word Gadbad is from the Kannada word “Gadibidi” (in hurry or haste). In the Marathi and Hindi vocabulary, Gadbad means chaos or confusion. For a long time, I was confused as to why an ice cream dish was named Gadbad. What relationship did this ice cream sundae have with being confusing and chaotic?

When I read the origin and history of the Gadbad ice cream, it all started to make sense. One story making the rounds is that it was Mr. Mohandas Pai, owner of Diana restaurant who came up with this dessert in the 1970s. One day the restaurant was running out of ice cream and the customers were getting impatient. So, he asked his cook to put together all the remaining ice cream with jelly, nuts, and fruits and serve it in a tall glass to the customers. Well, it worked! The customers loved it so much that it became a permanent part of the menu. You can read more about the other story here.

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Ingredients for Gadbad

Ice cream: I tried to follow the traditional recipe. It includes a scoop each of vanilla, strawberry, and pistachio ice cream.

Jello/Jelly: Jello is added in between the ice cream to build up layers. I used strawberry jello because of its vibrant red color.

Chopped Nuts: I used unsalted almonds, pistachios, and cashew. They add a great texture and bite to this ice cream dessert.

Chopped fruits: seasonal fruits are the best combination that you can use to make Gadbad. I used chopped-up pineapple, grapes, and apples. However, I would not mind using some strawberries if I had them on hand.

How to Make Gadbad Ice Cream

Gadbad Ice cream sundae is pretty easy to put together. All you need is a tall glass. I had this beer mug that is tall enough, so I used it to make Gadbad. It is easy to assemble it that you won’t even need any instructions, but I will write them anyway.

• First, add a scoop of pistachio ice cream. You can use any brand you want. I would recommend an Indian brand for the most authentic taste.
• Next, add two tablespoons of jello. You can more if you wish.
• Top it off with 2 tbsp of chopped nuts for that extra crunch.
• Add a scoop of strawberry ice cream.
• Layer in 3 tbsp of chopped fruits.
• Finally, finish it off by adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
• Add a cherry for garnish.