Best 2 Sweet Rice Zarda Recipes

Sweet rice zarda is a traditional Pakistani and Indian dessert made with rice, sugar, ghee, nuts, and spices. It is a popular dish served during special occasions such as weddings, festivals, and religious holidays. Sweet rice zarda is known for its sweet and aromatic flavor, as well as its vibrant yellow color. The dish can be made with a variety of ingredients, including different types of nuts, fruits, and spices, allowing for customization according to individual preferences.

Here are our top 2 tried and tested recipes!

SWEET RICE (ZARDA)

Sweet Rice (Zarda) image

This is a traditional Pakistani sweet dish, which is must for every occasion. It is easy to make and consists of simple ingredients rather than rich and calorie rich ingredients. Try substituting ricotta for the cream and varying the dry fruit and nuts.

Provided by Shazia Ahmed

Categories World Cuisine Recipes Asian Pakistani

Time 50m

Yield 16

Number Of Ingredients 10

Ingredients

4 cups uncooked white rice
¼ teaspoon orange food color
10 pods whole cardamom
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 cups white sugar
3 tablespoons heavy cream
1 tablespoon raisins
1 tablespoon chopped walnuts
1 tablespoon chopped almonds
2 teaspoons grated orange zest

Steps:

Place the rice in a bowl with water to cover and soak one hour.
Bring a large pot of water to boil with food color and half the cardamom pods. Stir in the rice, reduce heat, cover and simmer until tender, 20 minutes.
In a large skillet over low heat, cook remaining cardamom pods in oil 2 minutes. Stir in cooked, drained rice, and sugar. Cover and cook 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in cream, raisins, walnuts, almonds and orange zest. Serve warm.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 394.5 calories, Carbohydrate 87.8 g, Cholesterol 3.8 mg, Fat 3.5 g, Fiber 0.7 g, Protein 3.5 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, Sodium 3.5 mg, Sugar 50.4 g

SWEET AFGHANI RICE WITH LEMON & CHICKEN (ZARDA PALAU)

Sweet Afghani Rice With Lemon & Chicken (Zarda Palau) image

This is really tasty. I serve this dish with a plain Balkan (thick) yogurt and a fresh salad for a delicious meal. Modified from The Compleate Middle East Cookbook by Tess Mallos.

Provided by UmmBinat

Categories One Dish Meal

Time 1h20m

Yield 3 , 3 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 13

Ingredients

1 lemon, thinly pealed rind of (I grate the rind for ease)
water
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 cup ghee (butter or oil)
1/4 cup blanched sliverd almonds
2 chicken breasts, quartered
sea salt
fresh ground black pepper
1 small cooking onion, sliced
1 1/4 cups white basmati rice
1/4 teaspoon saffron thread
1 tablespoon hot water
balkan yogurt (to serve)

Steps:

Preheat oven to 300F (yes that low).
Boil shredded peel in 1 cup water for 5 minutes, drain & rinse.
Desolve sugar in 1/2 cup water, add peel and boil gently for 5 minutes or until syrup is thick. Set aside.
Heat 1 tbs ghee or oil in a frying pan and fry almonds gently until golden (Watch carefully they brown quick when you turn your head.) Remove from pan once done.
Add remaining ghee or oil and brown chicken pieces on all sides, remove with a slotted spoon and season chicken with salt and pepper.
Add onion to the pan and fry gently until soft and slightly browned.
Add 1/2 cup water to the pan to lift browned juices, return chicken and simmer gently for 7 minutes.
Bring 5 cups of water to a boil in a large pot. Add washed rice and salt to taste.
Return to a boil and boil for 8 minutes then drain in a colander or sieve.
Turn rice into a bowl and pour syrup over rice. Toss rice and spread half into a greased casserole dish.
Arrange chicken pieces on top with the onion and half the cooking liquid.
Spread remaining rice on top, pour on remainder of chicken liquid evenly.
Cover casserole and cook in oven for 40 minutes.
Meanwhile steep pounded saffron threads in hot water. (An Arab coffee cup is the perfect size for this).
When palau is cooked remove top layer of rice and arrange around edge of warm serving platter. put chicken pieces aside and place bottom layer of rice in center of platter. Top with chicken pieces and garnish with reserved almonds. Pour saffron liquid over the rice boarder and serve immediately with yogurt.

Tips:

- **Use high-quality ingredients.** This will ensure that your zarda is flavorful and delicious. Look for fragrant basmati rice, fresh nuts, and spices. - **Rinse the rice thoroughly before cooking.** This will remove any dirt or debris and help the rice cook evenly. - **Toast the nuts and spices before adding them to the rice.** This will enhance their flavor and aroma. - **Simmer the rice on low heat.** This will help it cook evenly and prevent it from becoming mushy. - **Add the sugar and saffron water gradually.** This will help prevent the zarda from becoming too sweet or bitter. - **Garnish the zarda with nuts, dried fruits, and rose petals.** This will add a beautiful and festive touch.

Conclusion:

Sweet rice zarda is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed on any occasion. It is easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste preferences. Whether you serve it as a dessert, a snack, or a main course, zarda is sure to please everyone at the table. So next time you are looking for a special dish to make, give sweet rice zarda a try!