Zarda (Sweet Saffron Rice)- Kashmir Special

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Zarda is a traditional
South Asian sweet dish, which very popular at Kashmir. This rice variation looks
as pretty as Kasmir. Zarda is prepared by cooking basmati rice with milk,
sugar, cardamom and dry nuts. You can garnish with roasted pistachio, cashews,
almonds and raisins and murabba or tutti frutti.  For beautiful color we can add saffron and
orange color. That’s why we call this Sweet saffron rice “Zarda”. I prefer to add
silver warq to garnish which gives royal look.

The name Zarda comes from Persian and Urdu ‘zard’
meaning ‘yellow’, hence named since the food coloring added to the rice gives
it a yellow color. Zarda is typically served after a meal. In Pakistan and
India, zarda was and still remains a popular dessert on weddings.
For April Month, ICC hosted by Srivalli from spice
your life choose “Kashmir special – Zarda” recipe for Indian Cooking Challenge.
I really say thanks to Srivalli and Vaishali both for choosing and considering
this wonderful and authentic rice recipe from the Kashmir and we get the chance
to explore this variation.


Preparation Time:
30 Minutes
Cooking Time:
30-40 Minutes
Serving: 3
Persons
Recipe
Source: ICC

Ingredients
1 Cup Basamati Rice
1/4 Cup Milk
1/2 Cup Sugar
1 Tbsp. Clarifying Butter
2-3 Green Cardamoms
1 Small Stick Cinnamon
2-3 Cloves
5-6 Strands Saffron
4-5 Pistachios
4-5 Cashews
4-5 Almonds
10 Raisins
1 Tbsp. Tutti Frutti
Silver Warq
2-3 Drops Food Color, Orange

Direction
Wash and soak the rice in water for half an
hour. In pan add sugar with 1/4 Cup
water to make sugar syrup. Keep aside to
cool. Soak saffron in few drops of milk separately. Roast the dry nuts in desi ghee separately.
Heat the ghee in the heavy bottom pan. Add cloves,
cardamom and cinnamon. Add drained rice with 1/2 cup water. Cook for few
minutes when water start drying.  Add milk, sugar syrup and saffron. Mix softly
otherwise rice become mashy. Add color and
cover to cook on simmer flame. When rice becomes at dry stage add shallow fried
dry nuts and tutti frutti. Garnish with silver warq.
Note: Roast the every nut separately in ghee. 
Broke the cardamom while using it’s give wonderful flavor in ghee. 
Use only Desi ghee/ Clarifying butter for traditional zarda recipe.

Soul Food Show event and giveaway hosted by Vijaylakshmi 

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Simply Tadka is one place where I can show my passion for cooking and photography. My blog features easy and quick vegetarian recipes that don’t demand much time and effort. I loves experimenting and substitutes some of the ingredients that are not easily available in the kitchen. For more details Check here

22 thoughts on “Zarda (Sweet Saffron Rice)- Kashmir Special

  1. A friend ntroduced me to Zarda and also shared her recipe which I never happened to try. Your post reminds me that I need to hunt for it and try it asap! Your zarda looks delicious!

  2. Wow so lovely..Loved the clicks. Thank you so much for your entry linked in my blog.I want you to follow the rules and get eligible for the giveaway otherwise it will not qualify for the giveaway.

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