September 4, 2025

10 Ways to Use Rose Water in Your Kitchen

By Daniella Soofer

If you’ve ever wondered what to do with that beautiful bottle of rose water in your pantry, you’re not alone. Often used in Middle Eastern cuisine, culinary rose water adds a delicate floral note to both sweet and savory dishes — but a little goes a long way.

At Sadaf, our Rose Water is steam-distilled for purity and crafted specifically for food use. Whether you’re making traditional desserts or exploring new flavor combinations, here are 10 delicious ways to cook with rose water.

1. Add to Persian Rice Pudding (Sholeh Zard)

One of the most iconic uses of rose water is in sholeh zard, a Persian saffron rice pudding. The combination of saffron, rose water, and cardamom creates a fragrant dessert that’s both comforting and elegant. Just a few teaspoons stirred in at the end makes all the difference.

2. Elevate Your Lemonade or Iced Tea

A splash of rose water turns everyday lemonade into a floral refresher — perfect for summer picnics or afternoon gatherings. It also works beautifully in iced black tea for a Middle Eastern twist.

Pro Tip: Add fresh mint and a slice of lemon for a Persian-inspired mocktail.

3. Glaze Meats with Rose & Pomegranate

For savory cooking, rose water pairs surprisingly well with pomegranate molasses. Whisk together rose water, pomegranate molasses, garlic, and olive oil for a sweet-tart glaze over roasted lamb, chicken, or eggplant.

Flavors to pair:

Ground sumac
Sadaf Pomegranate Molasses
Cracked black pepper

4. Whip into Cream or Frosting

Add a few drops of rose water to homemade whipped cream or buttercream frosting for a romantic, unexpected flavor that pairs well with pistachio cake, vanilla cupcakes, or fruit tarts.

Flavor pairing idea: Rose + cardamom + pistachio

5. Blend into Yogurt Dips & Parfaits

Rose water adds an elegant floral note to Greek yogurt, whether you're making a savory dip or a sweet parfait. Drizzle with honey and top with walnuts or granola.

Perfect for:

Fruit + yogurt parfaits
Labneh-style dips with za’atar and rose

6. Infuse Simple Syrups for Cocktails & Mocktails

Combine sugar, water, and rose water to make a rose simple syrup that can be added to tea, cocktails, mocktails, or drizzled over cakes. It’s an easy way to get a consistent floral flavor in drinks and desserts.

Cocktail idea: Rose Water Gin Fizz with cucumber and lemon

7. Bake Middle Eastern-Inspired Cakes

Rose water is a key ingredient in classic Middle Eastern bakes like the Persian Love Cake, basbousa, and ma’amoul. A teaspoon or two in your cake batter adds a sophisticated touch that pairs beautifully with nuts and spices.

Pair it with:

Almond flour
Pistachios
Citrus zest

8. Enhance Chia Puddings or Overnight Oats

Make your everyday chia pudding feel luxurious by stirring in rose water and topping with dried rose petals, honey, and crushed pistachios.

Overnight oats tip: Use rose water + coconut milk + dates for a Persian breakfast twist.

9. Stir into Homemade Jams or Compotes

Add rose water at the end of cooking your jam or compote (after removing it from heat) to preserve its floral aroma. It works well with fruits like strawberry, apricot, and raspberry.

Recipe idea:
Strawberry rose jam for toast or yogurt bowls.

10. Upgrade Your Coffee or Hot Chocolate

While rose water is more commonly added to tea, it can be just as delightful in hot beverages like coffee, espresso, or hot chocolate. Just a drop or two will infuse your drink with an aromatic note — a great addition to Turkish or Arabic-style coffee.

Try it with:

Cardamom coffee
Pistachio milk lattes
Sadaf Special Blend Tea

Tips for Cooking with Rose Water

Start small. Rose water is very concentrated — begin with 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon and adjust to taste.
Look for food-grade. Always choose culinary rose water like Sadaf's, which is steam-distilled for flavor and safety.
Pair with nuts, citrus, or spices. Rose water pairs best with cardamom, saffron, pistachios, lemon, and almonds.

Why Choose Sadaf Rose Water?

Sadaf Rose Water is a pantry staple for Middle Eastern kitchens — trusted for decades and made from high-quality distilled rose petals. It’s perfect for: