Whether or not you name it Zarda Pulao or Meethe Chawal, one factor stays the identical: this shiny and sunny dish is ideal for festive events. This can be a aromatic, candy pulao or candy rice made with basmati rice, nuts, dry fruits, and saffron. Better of all, you solely want 8 elements and half-hour of energetic time to make my Zarda recipe at residence.
About Zarda Recipe
Zarda pulao is so named as a result of the phrase zard means ‘yellow’ in Persian and Urdu languages. Typical zarda pulao has a yellow colour from utilizing yellow meals colour. In my Zarda Recipe, I’ve used saffron to get that sunshiny colour and haven’t used any synthetic colours in any way.
Zarda rice is made throughout festive events in our residence. That is my mother-in-law’s recipe and it has turn out to be my go-to for this scrumptious dish. The tactic shared right here is straightforward and never tough.
Love candy or subtly spiced rice dishes? Attempt our Jaggery Rice & Kashmiri Pulao subsequent!
There are various variations of constructing zarda pulao in India in addition to in neighboring nations like Bangladesh and Pakistan. What I’m sharing right here is how we make Zarda at residence and it might not be thought of genuine by all events. That mentioned, it’s tremendous scrumptious.
This Zarda recipe yields a very scrumptious candy rice that will likely be cherished by each grown-ups and children. There are numerous dry fruit and nuts that you would be able to add to the rice. I’ve used a mixture of cashews, almonds, and pistachios.
Raisins are additionally usually added, however I didn’t have any the day I made this batch. Do add raisins if in case you have them, as they add beautiful pops of candy and chewy texture all through.
Serve Zarda Rice as a candy snack or a dessert. The recipe can simply be doubled or tripled in line with your wants.
Components & Substitutions
- Basmati Rice – I really like aromatic basmati rice for nearly each recipe. That mentioned, be at liberty to make use of any lengthy grain rice you have got available (e.g. jasmine).
- Cloves – I exploit complete cloves right here for probably the most potent taste. In a pinch, you’ll be able to swap in floor cloves.
- Saffron (Kesar) – For shiny yellow coloring and a little bit of taste.
- Water – If potential, use filtered water for the very best taste.
- Ghee (Clarified Butter) – For richness. Should you choose to make this vegan, swap in edible coconut oil or vegan butter.
- Inexperienced Cardamom Powder – For heat.
- Sugar – For sweetness. Be at liberty to make use of jaggery, cane sugar, or some other sweetener you favor.
- Almonds, Cashews & Pistachios – Any number of toasted nuts can be utilized right here. You can even substitute seeds like pepitas (pumpkin seeds) or sunflower seeds in case you are a nut-free family. Alternatively, omit them altogether.
- Raisins – These are my most used dried fruit, however be at liberty to make use of any that you simply and your loved ones choose.
Step-by-Step Information
How you can make Zarda Rice
This stunning meethe chawal comes collectively with out a lot fuss. Right here’s the way it’s accomplished:
Strain Prepare dinner Rice
1. Rinse ½ cup basmati rice very effectively in water until the water runs away from starch. Then soak basmati rice for 20 to half-hour in sufficient water.
After 20 to half-hour drain all of the water and preserve the rice apart.
2. In a 2 litre strain cooker, pour 1 cup water.
3. Add ⅛ teaspoon saffron strands (3 to 4 pinches of kesar).
4. With a spoon, stir in order that the saffron strands combine with water.
5. Then add ½ cup of the soaked basmati rice.
6. Add 5 to six cloves. You may even add 7 to 9 cloves in the event you choose.
7. Strain cook dinner for two whistles or for about 6 to 7 minutes on medium warmth.
8. As soon as the strain settles down, then open the lid and verify the rice if its cooked.
9. The rice simply must be cooked. Gently fluff the rice. You can even decide to cook dinner the rice grains till they’re al dente.
Make Zarda Pulao
1. In a heavy kadai or pan, add 3 tablespoons ghee.
2. With a spoon or spatula unfold ghee on all sides of the pan. That is accomplished in order that the rice grains don’t stick with the pan when cooking.
3. Add the cooked rice within the pan.
4. Add ½ cup of sugar.
5. Sprinkle ¾ teaspoon inexperienced cardamom powder. You can even add 1 teaspoon cardamom powder for a extra pronounced cardamom aroma.
6. Combine effectively however gently, in order that the sugar will get combined evenly with cooked rice grains.
7. On a low flame or low warmth, cook dinner the candy rice combination. You will notice the sugar melting and a few liquid consistency within the rice.
8. Stir the zarda rice combination often.
9. Prepare dinner until the sugar answer dries up.
If the rice grains really feel exhausting, chewy or dense after cooking, then cowl the pan with a humid material or moist cotton serviette. Then cowl with a lid and cook dinner zarda pulao for 20 to 30 seconds on low warmth.
10. As soon as there isn’t any liquid consistency within the candy rice, then add 8 pistachios (sliced), 8 almonds (sliced) and eight cashews (sliced).
11. Combine effectively and switch off the warmth. If including raisins, then you’ll be able to add at this step.
12. Serve Zarda or Meethe Chawal sizzling or heat. Alternatively, you’ll be able to unfold Candy Rice on a big plate after which serve.
Garnish Zarda Rice with some cashews, raisins, almonds, and pistachios whereas serving. Take pleasure in!
FAQs
Ooops! That sounds such as you forgot to rinse your rice till the water ran clear. Sticky, mushy consistency is normally an indication that there’s an excessive amount of starch, which is why we rinse it earlier than cooking.
Should you overcook the rice within the strain cooker, it’ll get sticky as you cook dinner it with the sugar combination. Make certain to cook dinner the rice till it’s simply al dente earlier than transferring on to the following step.
If the rice grains really feel exhausting, chewy or dense after cooking, then cowl the pan with a humid material or cotton serviette. Then cowl pan with a lid and cook dinner zarda rice for 20 to 30 seconds.
Extra Indian rice recipes
Please be sure you fee the recipe within the recipe card or depart a remark beneath if in case you have made it. For extra veetarian inspirations, Signal Up for my emails or comply with me on Instagram, Youtube, Fb, Pinterest or Twitter.
Zarda Recipe | Meethe Chawal (Indian Candy Rice)
Zarda Recipe additionally known as Meethe Chawal (that means Candy Rice) is a aromatic rice preparation made with basmati rice, nuts, ghee, dry fruits and saffron.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Prepare dinner Time 20 minutes
Complete Time 50 minutes
Forestall your display screen from going darkish whereas making the recipe
strain cooking rice
Rinse ½ cup basmati rice very effectively in water until the water runs away from starch. Then soak basmati rice for half-hour in sufficient water. After half-hour drain all of the water and preserve rice apart.
In a 2 litre strain cooker, pour 1 cup water.
Add ⅛ teaspoon saffron strands (3 to 4 pinches).
With a spoon stir, in order that the saffron strands combine with water.
Then add ½ cup rice and 5 to six cloves. You may even add 7 to 9 cloves if you’d like.
Strain cook dinner for two whistles or for about 6 to 7 minutes on medium flame.
As soon as the strain settles down, then open the lid and verify the rice if its cooked. The rice simply must be cooked. Gently fluff the rice.
making zarda
In a heavy kadai or pan, add 3 tablespoons ghee.
With a spoon or spatula unfold ghee on all sides of the pan. That is accomplished in order that the rice grains don’t stick with the pan when cooking.
Add the cooked rice within the pan.
Add ½ cup sugar.
Sprinkle ¾ teaspoon cardamom powder. You can even add 1 teaspoon cardamom powder for a pronounced cardamom aroma.
Combine effectively however gently, in order that the sugar will get combined evenly with cooked rice grains.
On a low flame or low warmth, cook dinner the pulao combination. You will notice the sugar melting and a few liquid consistency in pulao.
Stir the zarda pulao combination often.
Prepare dinner until the sugar answer dries up. After cooking, if in case the rice grains really feel exhausting or dense, then cowl the pan with a humid material or cotton serviette. Cowl with a lid and cook dinner pulao for 20 to 30 seconds.
As soon as there isn’t any liquid consistency, then add 8 pistachios (sliced), 8 almonds (sliced) and eight cashews (sliced). Combine effectively and change off the flame. If including raisins, then you’ll be able to add at this step.
Serve zarda rice sizzling or heat. Alternatively you’ll be able to unfold zarda a big plate after which serve. Garnish zarda pulao with some cashews, raisins, almonds and pistachios whereas serving.
- The recipe may be doubled or tripled.
- You need to use a impartial flavored oil as an alternative of ghee.
- Add nuts and dry fruits of your option to make it extra flavorful.
- If you’d like you’ll be able to add a little bit of orange or yellow pure colour extract.
Vitamin Information
Zarda Recipe | Meethe Chawal (Indian Candy Rice)
Quantity Per Serving
Energy 418 Energy from Fats 153
% Day by day Worth*
Fats 17g26%
Saturated Fats 8g50%
Monounsaturated Fats 3g
Ldl cholesterol 33mg11%
Sodium 12mg1%
Potassium 133mg4%
Carbohydrates 63g21%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 35g39%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 400IU8%
Calcium 16mg2%
Iron 0.8mg4%
* % Day by day Values are based mostly on a 2000 calorie food plan.
This Zarda recipe from the archives, initially printed in June 2017 has been up to date and republished on February 2023.
