Fauzia's Kitchen Fun

Zarda (Sweet) Rice

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Zarda (Sweet) Rice

This sweet rice dish is extremely yummy…and super easy to make!  Recipe adapted from Rania Zohaib with some alterations
Servings 4 people

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup basmati rice
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 2 tbsp. margarine
  • pinch of cardamom powder
  • 4 tbsp. peeled and flaked almonds
  • 10-12 raisins
  • 1/2 tsp. yellow food coloring

Instructions
 

  • Soak the rice for about 20-25 minutes.
    Bring a pan of water to the boil and add color and cardamom powder to the water. Then add the drained rice and boil on medium heat until the rice is about 90% done. Drain and set aside.
    Now take a small pan and heat the margarine, add the raisins and let them swell up, then turn the heat off.
    Take another pan and start layering, first put half the rice, then sprinkle half the sugar and half the almond flakes, again add the remaining rice, followed by sugar and almond flakes. Drizzle the melted margarine with the raisins on top.
    Turn the heat on high and stand over the pan. The sugar will start melting right away. Using your fingers or a fork, gently toss the rice with the rest of the ingredients so that it is all well mixed together.
    Cover the pan with a cloth followed by the lid and put it on very low heat for about 15 minutes so that the rice gets steamed nicely. Uncover, toss with a fork and serve warm!! 
    The sugar that melts over the rice helps make sure your rice maintains its beautiful appearance, so it won’t get mashed if you are careful in making this dish.
    Enjoy!

Join the Conversation

  1. your blog is the best and i think you should keep it up . All the best

  2. Hi fauzia, how much water should i put un the pan for 1 cup ruce also when do we add food colour

    1. Fauzia's Kitchen Fun Author says:

      It doesn’t matter how much water coz after the rice is ready the water will be drained off. Just enough to make sure the rice can boil easily inside it.

  3. I’m loving it!!!

  4. can i use butter instead of margarine?

    1. Fauzia's Kitchen Fun Author says:

      Yes you can.

  5. no need of sugar for this
    no need of sugar for this recipe? (actually my wife is asking this question lol)

    1. admin_2 Author says:

      Second ingredient in the list
      Second ingredient in the list is sugar, maybe your wife missed it. 🙂

      1. oops my mistake, she asked
        oops my mistake, she asked about salt not sugar..

  6. Anum Zehra says:

    margarine :/ blueband
    margarine :/ blueband margarine?? bt thts salty..

    1. admin_2 Author says:

      A little salt in sweet things
      A little salt in sweet things make them better.

  7. fatmasaid says:

    I lav zarda,sm1 gave me a
    I lav zarda,sm1 gave me a totally different method,im going to try this it luks yummy.thanks

  8. Bushra Imtiaz says:

    I am SO in LOVE with this
    I am SO in LOVE with this website. Tried this recepie yesterday at the spur of the moment, and it was my first time making zarda. My husband LOVED it! JazakAllah!

  9. delish77 says:

    Hi, can I use ghee instead of
    Hi, can I use ghee instead of butter?

    1. admin_2 Author says:

      Hi, yes you can.
      Hi, yes you can.

  10. ambreenbd says:

    How much would be the rice in
    How much would be the rice in weight in one cup.

  11. ummkulthum says:

    aslm alykm faiza inshaAllah
    aslm alykm faiza inshaAllah ur dng ok.shukra n for all th awesome recipes may Allah bless u n ur family.pls if u dnt mind wat does 10-12 raisins mean?shukran

    1. admin_2 Author says:

      W/Salaam, raisins are dried
      W/Salaam, raisins are dried fruit, sultanas or zabib.

  12. Seyyida says:

    Amazing sweet rice…thank
    Amazing sweet rice…thank you so much for the recipe…

  13. Thank you!!! I tried making
    Thank you!!! I tried making Zarda for the first time in my life using your recipe and it turned out perfect!!!!

  14. Saema Valls says:

    I have made zarda this way so many times now, alhumdollilah they come out perfect every time. Thank you Fauzia…. ❤️

    Would love a Gurr Wale Chaaval recipe in the same easy way…… 👌

  15. Shabnam Shergill says:

    Your recipe for making zarda is the best!

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