No festivity or religious celebration is complete without a sweet dish or dessert in the subcontinent. Whether it is a spiritual event, wedding, or baby announcement to your family, these special moments of joy are always shared with a plate of (zarda) Indian sweet Rice. This dessert has a comforting taste, delicious aroma, and addictive flavor. This royal dish is rooted in the Mughal era and has been passed down to the generations with its authentic flavor. Here are the secret ingredients of the zarda pulao that make it irresistible and delicious:
Sweet Rice (Zarda ) Ingredients:
The magic ingredients used in sweet Rice make this dessert so savory and unique. Each element has an exceptional taste and enhances the dish’s overall flavor, so you cannot stop eating it. Here is the breakdown of all essential ingredients:
Basmati Rice:
Use long-grain, fragrant basmati rice to get the best taste. Premium basmati rice absorbs the flavor of nuts. It has a better texture, and its distinct aroma makes it a treat for the eyes and taste buds. Using long-grain Rice is key to getting the best results.
Sugar:
It is the primary sweetener used to make Zarda pulao. Sugar is mixed with water to make syrup and added to boiled Rice. Depending on your taste, you can use unrefined or regular sugar.
Ghee- Butter:
Ghee adds a unique flavor to zarda (meethe chawal). Rice and nuts are fried in it, and sometimes, it is drizzled over the final dish to make it richer. Adding ghee makes it more indulgent. However, you can also use oil or butter if you like.
Saffron:
Saffron is the most notable ingredient in Indian sweet Rice. A few strands of Saffron are soaked in warm milk and added to the Rice, giving it a special aroma and unique, subtle taste.
Nuts:
The infusion of nuts in the Zarda recipe makes it a healthy choice for sweet lovers. You can add the following nuts in meethe chawal.
Cardamom:
It brings a unique aroma and taste to the Rice. You can use it in grounded form, add seeds, or use whole pods. It gives equally good flavor in each case. It provides a classic flavor to this dessert.
Raisins:
Raisins make Rice sweeter and balance the fluffy Rice with its soft texture. After frying in ghee, they add more richness to this sweet delight. Golden raisins are best for enhancing taste.
Cashews and Almonds:
These nuts can be added to Rice while cooking or used as garnish. Almonds and cashews make zarda pulao more enjoyable and balance the sweetness of the Rice.
Candied Fruits (Optional)
In India, candied fruits are well-loved and generously used in sweet dishes. Although adding them to sweet orange Rice is optional, they take the dessert taste to the next level.
Rosewater or Kewra Waters:
The signature aroma of this dessert comes from the kewra water, which is readily available at grocery stores. If kewra is not available, you can also use rose water. The aroma created by adding this ingredient is so divine that it goes beyond the taste.
Yellow Food Coloring:
Edible food colors can give the Rice a yellow “zard” color. However, if you have used Saffron, this ingredient might be optional because it enhances the dish’s appeal and doesn’t affect taste.
Quantity of Ingredients in Zarda Pulao- Meethe Chawal:
Now that we have discussed the ingredients of Zarda rice in detail, let us look at the quantity of the ingredients required to prepare the most authentic meethe chawal. Here is the list:
- Basmati Rice 250 gms
- Ghee 50 gms
- Green cardamom 4-5
- Nuts Handful/ to taste
(including cashew nuts, raisins, almonds, coconut flakes)
- Sugar 250 gm
- Food color 1 tsp
- Saffron 2-3 strings
- Milk ⅕ liter
- Water 1.5 liter
- Kewra water 1 tbsp
Let’s start cooking with an authentic Zarda rice recipe and indulge in sweet, savory flavors.
Most Authentic Sweet Rice Indian Recipe:
Wondering how to make Zarda sweet Rice? Here is a quick recipe to cook perfect orange sweet Rice.
Instructions:
1-Rinse and soak Rice:
Rinse the basmati rice thoroughly and soak it in water for 20-30 minutes. If you use sella basmati, wash it for about an hour to get the best results.
2-Boil Rice:
Add 1.5 liters of water to a large pot, boil, and then add Rice. Check the Rice’s tenderness, and don’t let it get mushy. Boiling Rice for 10-15 minutes will be enough. After cooking, drain the Rice and set it aside.
3-Prepare Saffron Infusion:
Soak Saffron in milk and set it aside for 10 minutes.
4-Prepare Sugar/ Maple Syrup:
In the same pan, add ghee and let it heat; add and fry green cardamoms for a couple of seconds. Add sugar, Saffron, and water or milk to get the desired syrup consistency. The desired sugar ratio to Rice must be 1:1. If you do not want to use sugar, maple syrup is the best replacement.
5-Fry Nuts:
Heat the ghee on medium flame in a separate pan, add the cardamom, and fry it for a minute. Then add all the nuts, such as cashews, almonds, raisins, and coconut flakes, and fry them. Add the sugar syrup and Rice and cook on medium flame until the Rice absorbs the sugar, then turn off the heat.
6-Kwara Water: (Optional)
Add kewra or rose water, whichever is available, to add aroma. Add it at the end and mix it well, let it sit for 5-10 minutes and then serve.
7-Serve:
Serve the best zarda rice after garnishing it with nuts, and candied fruits enjoy every bite.
Follow this sweet Indian rice recipe, which can be cooked in as little as 30 minutes, and enjoy perfection in every bite. However, suppose you want to indulge in this delicious Zarda treat and do not want to cook. In that case, the Babiryani Restaurant Business Bay,Dubai has got you covered. Order the best Zarda and have it delivered to your doorstep within 30 minutes. Because this Pakistani Sweet Rice restaurant not only serves you the zarda but also serve you Pakistani Biryani in dubai.
Tips to Make Perfect Indian Sweet Rice:
Here are tips that make your Indian sweet Rice more divine.
- Wash the Rice properly and thoroughly by running your hand in it and discard this water 2-3 times. It will remove the extra starch and produce fluffy Rice.
- Soak Rice for at least 20 minutes in the water to let it absorb into longer grains.
- Boil Rice like an expert, letting it get tender before adding it to the syrup. After adding it to the syrup, the Rice becomes slightly hard and doesn’t get tender. To know when the Rice is ready, Check the grains after 10-15 minutes to see if they can be removed from the stove.
- A good zarda has the perfect ratio of Rice and sugar. The ratio also depends on your taste. Usually, it is 1:1; however, the sugar ratio can be slightly reduced if you like mild sweetness.
- Always serve it warm. The best way to warm it is in the microwave, sprinkle a few drops of water, and put it in the oven to get the same fresh taste. After sprinkling a few drops of water, it can also be heated on a stove on a very low flame.
- While boiling or heating the Sweet Rice, use a stainless steel spatula and do not stir it much. Stirring can break the grains. Also, be gentle while doing it.
Conclusion:
Zarda Rice is the most affordable, quickly cooked, and perfectly tasted dessert equally loved in Indian and Pakistani communities. This dessert has gained popularity as a celebratory sweet dish. It is enjoyed at any occasion, event, and moment of happiness. The ingredients are simple and readily available, and they can also be cooked without any additional elements and with just three ingredients: rice, ghee, and sugar.This dish’s deliciousness and simplicity have made it the most demanded sweet dish in Pakistani Biryani restaurants in Dubai. Pakistani and Indian communities enjoy sizzling Mutton Birynai and pulao and then this sweet delight.
