Zarda Pulav Recipe (Rice Flavoured With Nuts And Saffron)

Name: Zarda Pulav Recipe (Rice Flavoured With Nuts And Saffron)
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients: 1 pinch Saffron (1 Saffron strands generous pinch); 3 tbsp Coconut Milk (3 tablespoon Milk coconut milk or almond milk); 1 cup Basmati Rice (1 cup Basmati rice); 2 pieces Bay Leaves (2 Bay leaf (tej patta)); 2 tbsp Clarified Butter (2 tablespoons Ghee plus 1 teaspoon Ghee (Vegans can use coconut oil)); 4 pieces Cloves (4 Cloves (Laung)); 4 pieces Cardamom (4 Cardamom (Elaichi) Pods/Seeds); 1 piece Cinnamon Stick (1 inch Cinnamon Stick (Dalchini)); ¾ tsp Ground Cardamom (3/4 teaspoon Cardamom Powder (Elaichi)); 0 pieces Nutmeg (Nutmeg powder a pinch); 0 pieces Cashew (Cashew nuts chopped); 0 pieces Almond (Whole Almonds (Badam) chopped); 0 pieces Pistachios (Pistachios chopped); ½ cup Granulated Sugar (1/2 cup Sugar + 2 tablespoons Sugar); 0 pieces Golden Raisins (Sultana Raisins as required (for garnishing)); 0 pieces Desiccated Coconut (Dry coconut (kopra) sliced, for garnishing)

Zarda Pulav is a sweet, saffron-infused rice dish from North Indian cuisine, featuring basmati rice parboiled then cooked with ghee, whole spices, sugar, and a medley of nuts.

50 minIndian

Servings4

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Vegetarian
Pescatarian
Halal

Ingredients

For 4 servings

Saffron1 pinch · 1 Saffron strands generous pinch
Coconut Milk3 tbsp · 3 tablespoon Milk coconut milk or almond milk
Basmati Rice1 cup · 1 cup Basmati rice
Bay Leaves2 pieces · 2 Bay leaf (tej patta)
Clarified Butter2 tbsp · 2 tablespoons Ghee plus 1 teaspoon Ghee (Vegans can use coconut oil)
Cloves4 pieces · 4 Cloves (Laung)
Cardamom4 pieces · 4 Cardamom (Elaichi) Pods/Seeds
Cinnamon Stick1 piece · 1 inch Cinnamon Stick (Dalchini)
Ground Cardamom¾ tsp · 3/4 teaspoon Cardamom Powder (Elaichi)
Nutmeg0 pieces · Nutmeg powder a pinch
Cashew0 pieces · Cashew nuts chopped
Almond0 pieces · Whole Almonds (Badam) chopped
Pistachios0 pieces · Pistachios chopped
Granulated Sugar½ cup · 1/2 cup Sugar + 2 tablespoons Sugar
Golden Raisins0 pieces · Sultana Raisins as required (for garnishing)
Desiccated Coconut0 pieces · Dry coconut (kopra) sliced, for garnishing

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Steps

1To begin making the Zarda Pulav recipes, warm the milk in a saucepan, add saffron and keep it aside for an hour so that the flavour of saffron is properly absorbed in the milk.
2Meanwhile, wash the rice with water properly. Once washed properly, soak it in required amount of water for about half an hour.
3Take 4 to 5 cups of water in a large saucepan, add one bay leaf and one black cardamom. Allow the water to come to a boil.
4Add a teaspoon of ghee and then add rice and gently stir it for 15 seconds. Par boil the rice i.e. cook it till it is cooked approximately eighty percent. (just as one would cook for layered biryani).
5Drain and sieve excess water in a colander and remove the rice on a wide plate to allow it to cool. (If you leave it in the colander, the rice will keep cooking gently in its own heat)
6In a heavy bottomed pan (so that rice does not stick to each other while cooking), heat the ghee and stir fry the cashews, almonds and pistachios for a few seconds till golden in colour (you can roast instead of frying them if you wish to). Remove on an absorbent sheet.
7In the same pan add cloves, black cardamom, bay leaf, green cardamom and cinnamon stick. Allow the spices to become aromatic. Add rice and very gently stir in the sugar along with saffron milk and cardamom powder {stir in gently so as not to break the rice grains}.
8Cover the pot and allow the contents to cook on low heat for approximately 10 minutes. Remove the pan from heat but do not open the lid of the pan. Keep it covered till you are ready to serve.
9Remove the lid and fluff the rice gently with a fork. Serve hot, garnished with assorted nuts and if you may, add some dry coconut slices and raisins.
10Serve Zarda Pulav along with Smoked Dal Makhani Dhaba Style Recipe, Paneer Butter Masala, Jeera Rice and Tawa Paratha for a special weekend meal or you can even make it for your Pot Luck parties.