Zarda Pulav or Sweet Rice is prepared as a dessert most commonly during Ramzan and at times of Holi. This is most commonly prepared as a dessert in north Muslim weddings, also called as a Meeti Chawal, as it is sweet.

Zarda Pulao is very simple and easy to prepare, and a richest dessert whereas is flavored with cardamom, saffron, flavored spices and consists of dry fruits like cashew nuts, kalonji, badam/almonds and raisins.

Zarda Pulao / Zarda Rice / How to make Zarda Rice

Due to the beautiful color and wonderful aroma thought of preparing it for Holi. Let me share the recipe…

Ingredients:

• Basmathi rice – 1 cup
• Sugar – 1 cup
• Saffron strands – 10 to 15 strands
• Desiccated coconut or slices of dry coconut – ½ cup
• Ghee/Clarified butter – ½ cup
• Salt to taste
• Bay leaf – 1 no
• Cinnamon (1”inch stick) – 1 pieces
• Cloves – 4 nos
• Cardamom – 3 nos
• Cashew nuts – 20 nos
• Raisins – 15 nos
• Chironji – 1 tbsp

Making of Zarda Pulao / Zarda rice –

Preparation:

• Soak saffron strands in ¼ cup of warm water and keep it aside.
• Blanch the almonds/badam and slice them to pieces.
• Heat 3 cups of water in a heavy bottomed vessel, add cloves, cinnamon, bay leaf and cardamom to it, wait until it boils.
• Add the rice to the boiling water and cook for almost 90%.
• Drain the water from the rice and keep it aside.
• Heat ghee/clarified butter in a kadai, add the cashew nuts, chironji, almonds and cook until they start turning golden brown in color.
• Add the raisins, desiccated coconut and cook until they double in size, make sure they don’t get burnt.
• Add the sugar and cook until the sugar melts.
• Pour in the saffron water and mix it well (make sure no lumps are formed).
• Add the rice once the sugar gets melted, stir it well so that the sugar syrup will coat the rice.
• Cover the vessel with a lid, keep in low flame and cook for 10 to 15 mins.
• After 15 mins, remove the lid from the vessel, stir it gently with a ladle.

Saffron water

Nuts getting roasted in Ghee/Clarified butter

Rice steamed with flavored spices

With desiccated coconut

With sugar

Sugar getting melted

With saffron water

Syrup ready

With rice

Rice after 10 mins of low flame cooking

Zarda Pulao / Zarda Rice / How to make Zarda Rice

Serve hot. Garnish with roasted nuts.