Zarda / sweet saffron rice

Zarda or sweet saffron rice is a traditional dessert very famous in India and Pakistan. The name zarda is derived from an urdu word ‘zard’ meaning yellow. It is served specially during weddings or special occasions. Basmati rice is cooked and then dipped in sugar syrup. Different nuts are used for garnishing. Glazed cherries, khoya and murabba are mixed in rice as well. You can also garnish it with silver foil to get a richer look.

Ingredients

Basmati rice(soaked for an hour) -  1 cup

Sugar - 1 cup

Butter -  ½  cup

Green Cardamom 1 piece

Cashews, raisins and almonds (peeled) -  a handful

Glazed cherries -  5-6 pieces

Murabba – cut into small pieces

Khoya – around 1 tablespoon

Few strands of Saffron soaked in a tablespoon of hot milk

Method:

Heat enough water and add orange food color to it. Add rice to it. Cook rice till it is 90 percent done. Drain excess water.

In a heavy bottomed pan add butter, when it melts add cardamom to it. Now add sugar to it. Now put half cup water to make sugar syrup.

When sugar syrup boils add cooked rice and saffron to it. Put the dry fruits and glazed cherries to it and mix a little.

When it becomes dry add khoya then mix and then switch the heat off.

P.S.- You can add dry fruits of your choice. I have used sugar of same amount as that of rice, if you like more sweet you can increase quantity of sugar a little.