Zarda ( Sweet Yellow Rice )

Zarda ( Sweet Yellow Rice ) ... Zarda is a traditional Pakistani / Indian sweet rice dish with dried fruits & nuts. The name Zarda is derived from the Persian and Urdu word 'zard' meaning 'yellow'. It is a popular dessert on weddings and also distributed during Islamic festivals and religious occasions.


Zarda ( Sweet Yellow Rice )
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Serves : 4 - 6


Ingredients :

• 250 gm.  Basmati or Sella rice
• Water, as required ( for boiling rice )
• Yellow or orange food color, as required
• 1 star anise
• 3 - 4 cloves
• 1/4 cup ghee / cooking oil
• 3 - 4 green cardamoms
• 200 - 250 gm.  sugar
• 2 tbsp.  almonds ( blanched, peeled & sliced )
• 2 tbsp.  sliced pistachios
• 2 tbsp.  raisins
• 2 tbsp.  fresh or dried coconut, thinly sliced
• 100 gm.  murabba / ashrafis ( candied fruits )
• 100 gm.  khoya, gulab jamun or cham cham; optional
• 1 tsp.  kewra water

Method :

• Wash and soak rice in enough water to cover by 2 inches, for half an hour to two hours, depending on the variety of rice you are using. Drain water and set aside.
• Boil water in a large pan with food color, star anise and cloves.
• Add drained rice and boil till fully cooked. Drain water and keep aside.
• Heat ghee in the pan, add cardamoms. When it crackles, add the drained rice, sugar, almonds, pistachios, coconut & raisins.
• Cook on low heat, covered until the sugar dissolves.
• Turn heat to high and cook uncovered , stirring occasionally until the water dries out.
• Now add murabba / ashrafi on top of rice and cook on very low heat, covered for 8 - 10 minutes.
• Turn off the heat, add kewra water and mix gently. 
• Serve garnished with khoya, gulab jamun and cham cham, if desired.

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