Thursday, April 28, 2011

Qaus-e-qazah or Rainbow Zarda


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Zarda is a traditional Pakistani dessert. It is usually made by boiling rice in the water along with orange food color. Then cooked in a sugar syrup along with nuts.
Qaus-e-qazah or Rainbow Zarda is made slightly different.
Firstly, rice are boiled in plain water. Then cooked in a sugar syrup along with nuts. Lastly, multiple food colors are added along with candied fruits ( murabba ). To make it more colorful & flavorful, decorate with  colored chum-chums and khoya.
Serves : 4 - 6

Ingredients :
  • 250 gm. rice
  • Water, as required ( for boiling rice )
  • 1/4 cup ghee / oil
  • 200 - 250 gm. sugar
  • 6 green cardamoms
  • 1 star anise
  • 4 cloves
  • 2 tbsp. almonds ( blanched, peeled & sliced )
  • 2 tbsp. sliced pistachios
  • 2 tbsp. raisins
  • 2 tbsp. fresh coconut, thinly sliced
  • 100 gm. murabba / ashrafis ( candied fruits )
  • Food colors ( yellow, red & green )
  • 1 tsp. kewra water
Method :
  • Wash & soak rice for half an hour.
  • Boil water with half of green cardamoms, star anise and cloves.
  • Add rice and cook till fully cooked. Drain and keep aside.
  • Heat ghee in a pan, add remaining cardamoms.
  • Add sugar with 1/4 cup water and cook on medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves and turns into a thin syrup.
  • Add almonds, pistachios, coconut & raisins.
  • Add in boiled rice, mix gently.
  • Now cook on medium heat, uncovered for 5 minutes.
  • When the syrup starts to dry, lower the heat & cook, covered with a lid, for 10 minutes until all the syrup is evaporated.
  • Now add in all the three colors, separately over the top.
  • Place murabba / ashrafi on top of rice.
  • Cook on very low heat for 5 minutes till all the moisture dries up.
  • Sprinkle kewra water and mix gently.
  • Remove from heat & serve hot. 

    Sending this post to the event Celebrate Sweets - Rice , started by Nivedita & this month hosted by Priya


    I've received these lovely awards by Suja of Kitchen Corner-Try It . Thank you Suja for passing these awards to me. Please go and check her blog for many beautiful recipes to try. Thanks again Suja!




    I am sharing it with these bloggers whom I have recently found. Please visit their blogs for delicious recipes.
    1. Srivalli at Cooking 4 all Seasons 
    2. Devi at Devi's Blog
    3. Geovana Fontanella at Dieta! Tô Fora 
    4. Shobha at Food Mazaa
    5. Min {Honest Vanilla} at Honest Vanilla: Herb, spice & everything nice
    6. KitchenStories at Kitchen Stories  
    7. Rahin at Lazzat ... 
    8. Vimitha Anand at My Culinary Trial Room... 
    9. Samira at MY SONPARI
    10. Smita at My Tasty treats
    11. Mary at One Perfect Bite   
    12. Parita at Parita's World 
    13. Prathima Rao at Prats Corner 
    14. Juliana at Simple Recipes 
    15. Lubna (Kitchen Flavours) at Yummy Food 
    Please friends accept these awards and pass on to other blogger friends to keep the ball rolling!

    Thank you for stopping by. Hope you enjoy the recipe!!!

    31 comments :

    1. This looks interesting.. Congrats on the awards :)

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    2. Very colourful, looks really lovely. Congratulations on all your awards.

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    3. So colorful! It must be very delicious.... yummmm! Thanks for sharing! I am following you and would like to invite you to follow me too!

      http://personalfoodjournal.blogspot.com

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    4. Thank you Sarah :)

      Thank you Ayeesha. So nice to hear from you :)

      Thank you Food Glorious Food for visiting my blog and joining as a follower. Would love to check yours soon :)

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    5. Lovely and colorful sweet....congrats on the awards dear...

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    6. Colorful dessert,looks so yummy..thanks for sharing dear.

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    7. Congratulations for the awards.
      This looks so colourful and yummy.

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    8. Congrats on the awards,rice looks colorful and delish.

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    9. Congrats on all your awards!
      Thank you for passing these awards to me.

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    10. Thats a flavorful and colorful rice... Thanks dear for sharing these lovely awards...

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    11. so colorful and wonderful !! Congrats on ur awards !!

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    12. Very colourful dessert...congrats on receiving all the awards.

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    13. Thanks a lot, for sharing your awards with me Ambreen, such a pleasure, I wish you could also share some of that delicious zarda with me too :D its been ages since I had tht, hopefully i'll be making it soon ....love it

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    14. Lovely recipe.. looks perfect dear.. thanks for the awesome recipe :)Congrats on ur awards..

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    15. Omg, wat a catchy,colourful and fabulous looking dish,completely inviting..Thanks for sending dear..

      Congrats on ur awards..

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    16. Thank you everyone for your lovely comments :)

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    17. So colorful and delicious! Congrats on your awards dear...

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    18. I have never had this dish, but it sounds wonderful. It is a perfect example of why all these awards have come your way. You are so kind to include in the list of people you share them with. I am most appreciative. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary

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    19. a colorful, delightful dessert! Love it!

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    20. congrats too on yet another round of awards dear :)

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    21. just reading all the ingredients makes me hungry for this- looks so very colorful n inviting!
      US Masala

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    22. Thank you so much everyone for your encouraging words. You are all so kind :)

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    23. heard abt this for the first time but ill try this for sure............

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    24. Congrats on your awards dear. Cookies look so attractive.

      Deepa
      Hamaree Rasoi

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    25. Thanks a lot Cook from Doha & Deepa for the nice words :)

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    26. Congrats on your awards! This dish is totally new to me. As long as its sweet,i can finish that plate! ;)

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    27. What are ashrafis? Where can I buy them? Or how are they made?

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      Replies
      1. It is a preserve made from fresh fruits. You can also use candied fruits instead of ashrafis.

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