Degchi
Zarda is a festive Pakistani dessert of saffron-yellow rice, slow-cooked with sugar, ghee, whole spices and dry fruits until every grain is fragrant and glossy. Bright golden in colour from saffron or food colour, it is served at weddings, Eid and other celebrations, usually in small bowls alongside the main meal as a sweet finish.
Quick answer: 60 min in total · serves 6 · main ingredients: Rice, Sugar, Clarified butter, Cardamom · amounts in metric and US
Ingredients
- 300 g 1.5 cup Rice, basmati rice, washed
- 250 g 1.25 cup Sugar
- 4 tbsp 4 tbsp Clarified butter
- 4 pc 4 pc Cardamom
- 50 g 0.33 cup Dry fruits, almonds, pistachios and raisins
- 1 pc 1 pc Cinnamon (Optional)
- 3 pc 3 pc Cloves (Optional)
- 1 pinch 1 pinch Saffron, soaked in warm milk (Optional)
- 0.25 tsp 0.25 tsp Food colour (orange/red), yellow, for colour (Optional)
Steps
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- Wash the rice thoroughly and soak in water.⏱ Soaking rice · 30 min
- Meanwhile, soak the saffron in two tablespoons of warm milk and set aside.
- Bring a large pot of water to the boil with the whole cardamom, cinnamon stick and cloves.
- Add the soaked, drained rice and boil until about three-quarters cooked — grains firm at the centre.⏱ Par-boiling rice · 7 min
- Drain the rice and spread it out on a tray to stop it cooking further.
- In a wide, heavy-bottomed pot, melt the ghee, add the sugar with a few tablespoons of water, and cook gently until it forms a light syrup.⏱ Making the syrup · 5 min
- Stir in the saffron milk (or a little food colour for a brighter yellow).
- Gently layer in the par-cooked rice along with the dry fruits, without breaking the grains.
- Cover the pot tightly (seal the lid with a strip of dough if needed) and cook on very low heat until the rice is tender and the syrup is absorbed.⏱ Dum (steaming) · 20 min
- Turn off the heat and let it rest for a few minutes, then fluff gently with a fork before serving.⏱ Resting · 5 min
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Frequently asked questions
How long does Zarda take?
60 minutes in total: about 15 minutes of prep and 45 minutes of cooking.
Is Zarda hard to make?
Degchi rates it medium. The method has 10 steps, and 5 of them have a timer you can start on this page.
How many people does Zarda serve?
This recipe serves 6. Use the toggle above the ingredient list to see the amounts in metric or US measures. For more or fewer portions, scale every amount in the same proportion, or use the servings control in the Degchi app.
Is Zarda halal, vegetarian or eggless?
It is marked halal in our recipe data. It is vegetarian. It has no egg. It has no beef. Check the labels on any packaged ingredients for your own needs.
What will I probably need to buy for Zarda?
Spice-box items: cardamom. Fresh items you will probably need to buy: clarified butter. Lentils, grains and other dry goods: rice, sugar, dry fruits.
Any tips for making Zarda?
Stir as little as possible once the rice goes in — vigorous stirring breaks the delicate grains. Use food colour sparingly for the classic bright yellow look, or rely on saffron alone for a softer, more natural shade.
Notes and questions
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