Make golden sweet rice on Baisakhi, Zarda Rice/Pulao

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp Ghee
• 2 ½ cup Sella basmati rice (soaked for 20 min)
• 7-8 no. Apricots, roughly chopped (optional)
• 4 cup Water
• 1 tbsp Saffron water
• 1 cup Sugar
• 3 no. Cloves
• 2 no, Green cardamom
• ½ cup Water
• Fried nuts
• ¾ cup Sugar
• Little water
• 2 tbsp Ghee
• 10-12 no. Pistachios
• 10-12 no. Almonds, cut into halves
• ¼ no. dry Coconut, sliced
• 10-12 no. Cashew Nuts
• ¼ tsp Fennel seeds
• ¼ tsp Black peppercorns, crushed
• Mint sprig
• Fried nuts

Steps

1. In a small kadai or handi, add ghee, once it’s hot, add sella basmati rice and saute it for a minute.
2. Add apricots, water, saffron water, sugar, cloves, green cardamom, water and mix well.
3. Cover it with a lid and let it cook for 12-15 minutes on low flames or until cooked well.
4. Finish it with fried nuts, remaining sugar, little water and give it a good mix.
5. Transfer it to a serving bowl or dish, garnish it with mint sprig and fried nuts.
6. Serve hot.
7. In a pan, add ghee, once its hot, add pistachios, almonds, dry coconut, cashew nuts and fry them until golden in colour.
8. Add fennel seeds, crushed black peppercorns and give it a good mix.
9. Turn off the flames and keep it aside for further use.