ZARDA | MEETHE CHAWAL | SWEET RICE |

ZARDA or Meethe Chawal or Sweet Rice is an Indian traditional sweet dish, with the goodness of dry fruits and spices. 

🍽  SERVINGS:              4 Servings

𛰪  SOAKING TIME:      30 Minutes

🍲  COOKING TIME:      30 MINUTES

✔  CUISINE:                  Indian

✔  COURSE:                 Sweet Dish

INGREDIENTS

1. Rice -                 2 Cups
2. Water -              4 Cups
3. Ghee -                4 tbsp
4. Sugar-                1 Cup
5. Saffron -            8-9
6. Cashew Nuts -   1/2 Cup Chopped
7. Sliced Coconut -1/2 Cup
8. Cardamom -      2 pods
9. Kismis -              1/2 Cup
10. Food Color-       Orange (Optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Take 2 cups of rice , wash throughly in running water and soak for 30 mins. Also soak few saffron threads in hot water and keep aside.
   
   
   
   
   
2. Take a pan, add 2 tbsp of ghee and roast each 1/2 cup chopped nuts, sliced coconut and kismis separately and keep aside.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Now take a deep bottom pan, add 4 cups of water. To it add 2 pods of crushed cardamom and 2 tbsp of ghee. Let it boil. Meanwhile, drain excess water from soaked rice and add to boiling water. Stir occasionally to avoid getting sticked to the pan. Add prepared saffron water as well.
   (I didn't use any food colour in this recipe. If you wish ,ur rice to look more orangish, u can use food colour)
   
    
4.  Now add 1 Cup sugar and stir lightly.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Once the water is reduced, add prepared nuts, kismis and sliced coconut to it.
   
   
   
   
   
6. Cook Rice till the water is fully absorbed. Don't over cook the rice, as it may become sticky.
   
   

   
   

   
   
7. Cook is low flame for another 6-7minutes, to get rid of excess moisture and the rice will look more lighter. Garnish and serve hot.