Meethe Chawal/ Zarda Rice is a North Indian fragrant sweet yellow rice recipe, prepared with Basmati Rice, Sugar, Milk and Saffron. It is very easy and simple to prepare at home. It is a one pot dish. Zarda Rice can be served as a dessert after lunch/dinner or can be made during festive occasions, especially for Basant Panchami as the cooked rice are yellow in colour. Here is the recipe with some tips and step by step instructions and pictures.
1. Firstly, put few saffron strands/kesar and 2 pinches of yellow food colour in 1 tbsp warm milk and keep it aside. Then take 1 cup Basmati Rice in a bowl.
2. Rinse rice very well in water till the water runs clear of starch. Then soak basmati rice for 30 minutes in enough water.
3. In a large pan/ kadai heat 1 tbsp ghee and add 2 green cardamom and 1 piece of cinnamon stick. Sauté them in hot ghee for 30 seconds.
4. Then add 12 almonds cut into half and roast.
5. When the almonds slightly roasted then add 12 cashew nuts cut into half and roast them.
6. Next, add 1 tbsp raisins/kishmish for few seconds or until raisins puff-up.
7. Then add 1 tbsp grated dry coconut or desiccated coconut to it and roast for more 30 seconds.
8. Then add 1 cup milk and 1/2 cup fresh cream/malai to it.
9. Bring a boil on medium flame.
10. Now add 1 cup soaked basmati rice to it and mix well.
11. Also add Kesar milk, which we prepared earlier. Mix well.
12. Cover and cook on medium flame for 12 minutes.
13. Mix gently, making sure rice is 70% cooked. Then take 2/3 rice in a plate very gently.
14. Add half of 3/4 cup sugar on the remaining rice in a pan and then spread 1/3 of rice over the sugar.
15. Next again add the leftover sugar and spread remaining 1/3 rice over it.
16. Cover and cook until sugar melts. Then stir the rice gently and again cover and cook for 7-8 minutes or until rice absorbs all the sugar and cook properly. Stir in between to prevent from burning.
17. Cook until the rice is cooked completely. Make sure do not overcook them as rice turns mushy.
18. Sweet Rice or Meethe Chawal is ready to serve. Enjoy!
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