Zarda

Ingredients

• 1 cup aged basmati rice, soaked 30 minutes
• ¾ cup sugar
• 4 tbsp ghee
• 4 green cardamoms, 4 cloves
• A large pinch of saffron in 3 tbsp warm milk (or a pinch of yellow food colour)
• 2 tbsp each almonds, cashews and raisins
• 1 tsp kewra water

Method

1. Boil the rice in plenty of water with a pinch of saffron or colour until 80% cooked. Drain.
2. Heat ghee, add the cloves and cardamoms and fry the nuts lightly.
3. Add the sugar with 3 tbsp water and stir until it melts into a syrup.
4. Add the rice, saffron milk and raisins and fold gently.
5. Cover tightly and cook on very low heat (dum) for 15 minutes until the syrup is absorbed.
6. Sprinkle kewra water and serve warm.