Zarda Rice Food

ZARDA RICE RECIPE

Steps:

• In a large pot, bring the water to boil and then add the rice.
• Mix in the yellow food color if using.
• Cook until the rice is parboiled, about 3/4 cooked through.
• Immediately strain the rice and set aside.
• Now in the same pot (after draining the water), add the ghee.
• Add the cardamom and clove, and let them roast for a minute or so, until fragrant.
• Now add the sugar and water, and medium heat, gently stir until sugar has completely dissolved.
• Once the sugar has dissolved, add the rice and mix so that the sugar syrup coats the rice evenly.
• Add the raisins, mix and cover the rice for a few minutes.
• Remove the lid, and add the rest of the nuts, and mix them thoroughly.
• Now reduce the heat of the stove to low, add a flat tawa and place the pot on it. Cover tightly, and let the rice complete cooking on low heat for about 15-20 minutes.
• This process of cooking in steam is called 'dum' and the timings may vary until the rice is fully cooked through. However, the rice does need to be on dum for at least 15-20 mins, because the sugar needs to be absorbed completely by the rice. If the rice is not steamed for the appropriate time, the rice will become hard.
• Once the rice is cooked, serve it in a bowl topped with more crushed nuts.

AMI'S ZARDA

Steps:

• Take a coffee mug fill it with water and add almonds to it and then put it in the microwave for 2 min , this will make it easier for you to take the skin off , cut them length wise across. Keep aside.
• Take another coffee mug, fill it with water and add raisins to it and place it in microwave for 1 minute Drain the water and keep aside.
• For rice: Put 4 cups of water in a sauce pan, add 3 cardamoms (break them with the back of the knife to release the pods/seeds -Note, we want the whole thing in not just the pods) and food color, bring to boil, add the rice in.Keep the heat on high.
• When rice is half way cooked turn the heat off and drain the water. Keep the rice aside. (In order to know if the rice is half cooked, with a spoon take three grains of rice and you will notice three lines in the middle of the grain; this means that the rice is half cooked.
• In a separate sauce pan , heat the oil, break 5 cardamoms add them in, cook for few seconds, add little less than ½ cup of water (CAUTION: MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A LID NEAR BY BEFORE ADDING WATER) Cover the sauce pan with lid as soon as you add water. Then add sugar and stir around till it's well dissolved, add raisins and rice and almonds inches Mix the rice so that it's covered with the sugar syrup and the raisins and almonds are evenly distributed.
• Keep the heat medium for 5 min or till all the liquid in the rice is gone. Add 2 teaspoon of oil on the top of rice for a little gloss. Now, cover the top of sauce pan with a foil paper and put the lid on, place the pan on a tawa (the one you make Indian pita bread on ) and cook it on a lower heat for 5 minute Reduce the heat further to the lowest for another 6-7min. AND you are DONE!
• This can be served hot or at room temperature. Some people like it with some Crème fraîche -- but I like to eat it as it is with some apple and cinnamon green tea. Yummy!

ZARDA - RED ROSE FLOWER RICE

Steps:

• Heat some of the ghee.
• Lightly fry the raisins in this and keep aside.
• To the remaining ghee, add the cardamom seeds, followed by the rice and fry on low flame for 5 minutes.
• Next, add the milk, sugar, salt and the rose petals.
• Cook on a low flame with a partially covered lid till the rice is tender and almost dry.
• Now carefully stir in the nuts, raisins and essence.
• It is very important that the rice should not be completely dry. It must be still tender and on the moist side once done.
• Remove from flame.
• Mix well.
• Cover with the silver warq and serve hot.