zarda recipe or meethe chawal recipe with video and step by step photos – meethe chawal or zarda pulao is a fragrant sweet pulao made with rice, dry fruits and saffron. the typical zarda pulao has a yellow color in the cooked rice grains. this color is got by using yellow food color. in this recipe, i have used saffron to get yellow color and not used any artificial colors. zarda pulao is so called as the word ‘zard’ means ‘yellow color’ in persian and urdu language.

zarda pulao is made during festive occasions in our home. this is my mother in law’s recipe and this time when we made zarda pulao, we took video and pics too. the method shared here is easy and not difficult. few more sweet rice recipes on blog are:

• jaggery rice
• kashmiri pulao (on sweeter side)
• sweet pongal recipe (with jaggery)
• sweet pongal recipe with sugar

there are many variations of making zarda pulao made in india as well as in neighboring countries like bangladesh and pakistan. what i am sharing here is how we make zarda pulao at home and it may not fit in the authentic recipe tag.

this zarda recipe gives a really delicious sweet pulao and will be loved by both grown ups and kids. there are various dry fruit and nuts that you can add in the pulao. i have used a mix of cashews, almonds and pistachios. raisins are also added. so do add raisins if you have them. i did not have raisins, hence could not add them.

serve zarda pulao as a sweet snack or a dessert. the recipe can be doubled or tripled.

if you are looking for more rice recipes then do check:

• veg pulao
• veg biryani
• curd rice
• brinji rice

4.23 from 9 votes

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zarda recipe

zarda recipe or meethe chawal or zarda pulao is a fragrant sweet pulao made with rice, dry fruits and saffron.

course desserts, sweets

cuisine north indian

prep time 30 minutes

cook time 20 minutes

total time 50 minutes

servings 3

rough calories per serving 418 kcal

author dassana amit

ingredients (1 cup = 250 ml)

for cooking rice

• ½ cup basmati rice
• enough water for soaking rice
• 5 to 6 cloves
• ⅛ teaspoon saffron or 3 to 4 pinches saffron (kesar)
• 1 cup water for pressure cooking rice

other ingredients for zarda recipe

• 3 tablespoons ghee (clarified butter)
• ¾ teaspoon green cardamom powder (choti elaichi powder)
• ½ cup sugar
• 8 almonds (badam) - chopped or sliced
• 8 cashews (kaju) - chopped or sliced
• 8 pistachios (pista) - chopped or sliced
• 10 to 12 raisins or add as required

how to make zarda recipe

pressure cooking rice for zarda recipe

1. rinse ½ cup basmati rice very well in water till the water runs clear of starch. then soak basmati rice for 30 minutes in enough water. after 30 minutes drain all the water and keep rice aside.

2. in a 2 litre pressure cooker, pour 1 cup water.

3. add ⅛ teaspoon saffron strands (3 to 4 pinches).

4. with a spoon stir, so that the saffron strands mix with water.

5. then add ½ cup rice and 5 to 6 cloves. you can even add 7 to 9 cloves if you want.

6. pressure cook for 2 whistles or for about 6 to 7 minutes on medium flame.

7. once the pressure settles down, then open the lid and check the rice if its cooked. the rice just need to be cooked. gently fluff the rice.

making zarda

1. in a heavy kadai or pan, add 3 tablespoons ghee.

2. with a spoon or spatula spread ghee on all sides of the pan. this is done so that the rice grains do not stick to the pan when cooking.

3. add the cooked rice in the pan.

4. add ½ cup sugar.

5. sprinkle ¾ teaspoon cardamom powder. you can also add 1 teaspoon cardamom powder for a pronounced cardamom aroma.

6. mix well but gently, so that the sugar gets mixed evenly with cooked rice grains.

7. on a low flame or low heat, cook the zarda pulao mixture. you will see the sugar melting and some liquid consistency in pulao.

8. stir the zarda pulao mixture occasionally.

9. cook till the sugar solution dries up. after cooking, if in case the rice grains feel hard or dense, then cover the pan with a damp cloth or cotton napkin. cover with a lid and cook zarda pulao for 20 to 30 seconds.

10. once there is no liquid consistency, then add 8 pistachios (sliced), 8 almonds (sliced) and 8 cashews (sliced). mix well and switch off the flame. if adding raisins, then you can add at this step.

11. serve zarda pulao hot or warm. alternatively you can spread zarda a large plate and then serve. garnish zarda pulao with some cashews, raisins, almonds and pistachios while serving.

recipe video

recipe notes

• the recipe can be doubled or tripled.
• you can use a neutral flavored oil instead of ghee. 
• add dry fruits of your choice. 
• if you want you can add a bit of orange or yellow natural color extract. 

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how to make zarda or meethe chawal recipe

pressure cooking rice

1. rinse ½ cup basmati rice very well in water till the water runs clear of starch. then soak basmati rice for 30 minutes in enough water. after 30 minutes drain all the water and keep rice aside.

2. in a 2 litre pressure cooker, pour 1 cup water.

3. add ⅛ teaspoon saffron strands ( 3 to 4 pinches kesar).

4. with a spoon stir, so that the saffron strands (kesar) mix with water.

5. then add ½ cup rice.

6. add 5 to 6 cloves. you can even add 7 to 9 cloves if you want.

7. pressure cook for 2 whistles or for about 6 to 7 minutes on medium flame.

8. once the pressure settles down, then open the lid and check the rice if its cooked.

9. the rice just need to be cooked. gently fluff the rice.

making meethe chawal

1. in a heavy kadai or pan, add 3 tablespoons ghee.

2. with a spoon or spatula spread ghee on all sides of the pan. this is done so that the rice grains do not stick to the pan when cooking.

3. add the cooked rice in the pan.

4. add ½ cup sugar.

5. sprinkle ¾ teaspoon cardamom powder. you can also add 1 teaspoon cardamom powder for a pronounced cardamom aroma.

6. mix well but gently, so that the sugar gets mixed evenly with cooked rice grains.

7. on a low flame or low heat, cook the zarda pulao mixture. you will see the sugar melting and some liquid consistency in pulao.

8. stir the zarda pulao mixture occasionally.

9. cook till the sugar solution dries up. after cooking, if in case the rice grains feel hard or dense, then cover the pan with a damp cloth or cotton napkin. cover with a lid and cook zarda pulao for 20 to 30 seconds.

10. once there is no liquid consistency, then add 8 pistachios (sliced), 8 almonds (sliced) and 8 cashews (sliced).

11. mix well and switch off the flame. if adding raisins, then you can add at this step.

12. serve meethe chawal hot or warm. alternatively, you can spread zarda on a large plate and then serve. garnish zarda rice with some cashews, raisins, almonds and pistachios while serving.

dassana amit

Founder, Designer, Recipe Developer, Food Photographer || MORE ABOUT US

i started vegrecipesofindia.com in feb 2009. it is a pure vegetarian blog and shares recipes with step by step photos that will help you to make delicious and tasty vegetarian food easily.

i am passionate about cooking from childhood and learnt cooking from my elders. having a home science degree surely enhanced my cooking & baking skills which i now share as fool proof recipes on the blog. i am trained both in mainstream indian as well as international cuisines.