Zarda is a traditional Pakistani recipe. This colorful, sweet and tasty rice based recipe is the ultimate food for happiness as it is prepared on many auspicious occasions like Eid, weddings and other social gatherings. The unique and peculiar trait of Zarda is that it is added with a bright yellow or orange food color. This is the reason behind the name of the recipe “Zarda” a derivation from the Urdu and Persian word “zard” which means yellow. Simple Punjabi Zarda is treated and served as a dessert after the main course meal and is prevalent in many rural parts of Pakistan and is served steaming hot in weddings and other happy occasions.
The recipe of zarda rice that I am going to share is a simple and easy to prepare recipe. I used to prepare the zarda recipe with milk. I have shared a step by step recipe for how to make shadion wala degi zarda at home. Do give it a try and share your feed back.
Take a big pan and fill it with water for boiling rice.
Add laung, namak, zarda color, choti ilaichi, kewra water in it and let the water boil on high flame.
Now drain the water out of rice and add in the boiling water.
Cook the rice till completely done. (Do not left under cooked)
Strain the rice and put aside.
_________________For Zarda_________________
In a wide pot add milk and sugar on high flame. Let the sugar melt completely.
Now add boiled rice in it and mix well.
Add ghee in it and cook it till the sugar and water from rice completely dries. Remember we need to cook this on high flame.
When the water completely dries slow the flame on the last point (Dam wali aanch), add khopra, almonds, asharfiyan, khoya in it.
Cover the pan and let the rice steam cook for 8-10 minutes.
After the time uncover the pan, and gently stir zarda.
Garnish with small ras gulla for enhanced flavor.
