How to make
Begin by preparing the milk cream base.
Pour the cold milk into a deep saucepan. Add the sugar, cornstarch, and flour. Whisk the mixture thoroughly until it becomes completely smooth and free of lumps.
Place the saucepan over medium heat and cook the mixture while stirring constantly. Continue stirring until the mixture thickens and develops a creamy pudding-like consistency.
Once the cream becomes thick and smooth, add the butter and vanilla extract. Stir until the butter melts completely and the cream becomes silky.
Prepare a suitable serving dish or baking dish.
Dip the ladyfingers briefly into the milk so they soften slightly. Arrange a layer of the soaked ladyfingers across the bottom of the dish.
Pour part of the hot cream over the ladyfingers and spread it evenly.
Slice the bananas into rounds and distribute them over the cream layer. Sprinkle some of the crushed walnuts on top.
Add another layer of ladyfingers lightly dipped in milk and pour the remaining cream over them. Smooth the surface gently with a spatula.
Finish by sprinkling the remaining crushed walnuts generously over the dessert.
Allow the dessert to cool first at room temperature.
After it cools, place it in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours until it fully sets.
Before serving the malabi dessert can be cut into portions or served with a spoon as a creamy pudding-style dessert.
Malabi is one of the oldest milk desserts from the Middle East and the Ottoman Empire. Combining it with ladyfingers and fruit creates a simple homemade no-bake dessert similar to an easy refrigerator cake.
Be sure to also try the famous Turkish milk dessert Kazandibi for another delicious traditional treat.
