Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

Zarda, one of the most popular sweet rice (meethe chawal) dish in Pakistan and India. For some people, this dish can be quite difficult recipe to master, but trust me it’s not as hard as it seems.

The beautiful & flavorful RICE DISH

In my opinion, ZARDA is one of the best looking desi desserts out there. I love its bright sunny yellow color and sprinkle of nuts, murabbas, khoya and raisins for added flavor and texture.

Zarda

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Total Time 45

Course Dessert

Cuisine Indian, Pakistani

Servings 8

Ingredients

1 Cup Rice
1/2 Cup Oil/ghee
1 Cup Milk
1.5 Cup Sugar
6-8 Cardamom seeds
4-5 Cloves
Almonds for garnishing
Murabba for garnishing
Raisins for garnishing

Instructions

Soak the rice for about 30 mins.
In a large pot, add water, food color and bring it to boil.
Add the soaked rice and cook until it's 80% done.
Immediately strain the rice and set aside.
For sugar syrup (chashni/sheera), add 1 cup of milk and 1/5 cups of sugar in a pan and add some cardamom seeds.
Once the sugar has dissolved, bring it to boil and set aside.
Next, add oil in a pot.
Saute few cardamoms, cardamom seeds, and cloves.
Add the prepared sugar syrup, bring it to boil.
Now add the rice, mix and cook on high heat until the milk is reduced.
Now reduce the heat of the stove to low, cover and cook on low heat for about 15-20 minutes.
This process of cooking in steam is called ‘dum’ and the timings may vary until the rice is fully cooked through.