Zarda ( Sweet rice )

Ingredients :
Basmati rice -1 cup ( soaked in water )
Sugar -3/4 cup ,
Milk -1 cup ( dissolve a pinch of saffron),
Ghee -4 tsp ,
Cloves -4 ,
Cardamom- 4 ,
Dry fruits ( few almonds ,raisins ,cashew nuts )
Yellow colour -1/2 tsp dissolved in 2 tbsp of water .

Method:
Wash and soak basmati rice in water for 1/2 hour .
Warm one cup of milk and put a pinch of saffron and leave it for 15 minutes.
Heat water in deep pan to boil the rice  .Add cloves and small cardamoms and yellow colour .

As water boils add rice .Stir and let the rice boil for 6 minutes or till 90 % done .
Drain the rice water and keep the cooked rice in a strainer .
Heat pan and  add 4 tsp of ghee . As ghee heats up stir fry the dry fruits and keep aside.

In the same ghee add sugar and saffron milk .
Let the sugar dissolve and then add the yellow rice .Do not stir let it boil for a minutes ,then lightly stir and  then put a lid .

Lower the heat and keep a tawa under the pan and leave it for 15 minutes till the sugar syrup is completely soaked in the rice .

Close the gas and leave it for 5 minute .

Open and gently stir the rice .Leave it to cool for few minutes.
Zarda is ready to be served .You can sprinkle more dry fruits before serving.


Serves 4