Lemon Zarda / Mishti Pulao – Sweetened Rice
- 02
- December
- 2009
Zarda:
Lemon Zarda, Lemony Zarda. Sweetened Lemon Rice. Sweet Rice Dessert. Sweetened Rice Zarda.
Zarda is a common sweet dish after a heavy biriyani. If I plan a Mughalai style dinner, quintessential dessert that comes to my mind is phirni and zarda. In many cultures sweets are generally served after the meal(Except in Hindu meals, where sweet comes first). It is universally accepted that ‘desserts’ promote good digestion. Although I am not very sure how it works (when it is filled with calories)!!!
I just wonder why would someone crave for something sweet’ soon after a relatively big meal like biriyani! I think the gesture to offer desserts at the end of the course…is to indicate the guest ‘Yes, course is complete…now we wish to say you good bye’ he he. Anyway…was kidding, I added lemon zest to the traditional recipe, today! Don’t ask me the significance…I was totally clueless, but good that it lighted up the rice.
Ingredients:
Basmati rice 1 cup (cooked)
Cashew nuts
Almonds
Pistachios
Walnuts
Cucumber seeds
Golden Raisins
Lemon zest 2 teaspoons
Sugar 1 cup
Saffron 1/2 spoon
Ghee.
Method:
In a pan, heat sugar with 1/2 cup of water. Add saffron to it…bring this to strong syrup like consistency.
In a wide pan, heat ghee. Fry nuts and raisins.
Add cooked rice and stir-fry for few minutes. Once they are fried and become kind of stiff…add sugar syrup to it.
Continue cooking over low flame/heat. When you feel its ready, its ready to consume, he he.
Wow fantastic dish…lipsmacking!!
Oh, YUM!your dish looks amazingly delicious!sounds simple & gr8, I’ll definitely give it a try.
WOW!! Sounds super yumm and a easy recipe.
hey this looks real yummy..its been ages i’ve had sakhar bhaat, this reminds me of it..
oh wow .. this looks so easy and is so delicious…will try for sure…
Wow………malar….lovely dish dear…..had long back….thanks for the recipe dear.
delicious sweet rice. looks different, will try once
This sounds so incredibly delicious! I’ve never had anything like it so I would love to give it a try. I love all the nuts in it!
Something new to me…Thanks for sharing:)
wow! a must try! awesome recipe!
Heard about this but never made this……….yummy
Mouth watering sweet,Very new to me, will try soon
sounds interesting and looks delicious,quiet a different dish from the usual…
This dish looks so divine. I’m going to try it, and I’m sure I will like it…
Sounds like kashmiri pulao. Great to satisfy a sweet tooth!
Looks delicious and great….
wow..simple and delicious..very different one.
I have never understood either my craving for something sweet even after a rich heavy meal as if the meal is incomplete without a sweet….
this rice dessert is new for me, must be filling with all the nuts too; I like the addition of the lemon zest and the cucumber seeds …nice one!!
very nice recipe….this is new to me …..
oohhh. interesting. I like the sound of a dessert rice dish – I’ve only ever heard of rice puddings and thing for dessert.
Easy and yummy sweet rice, looks delicious.
another classic from you! was looking for a zarda rice recipe for long and here it is. lovely dish only if i could have grabbed that plate right now.
This dessert sounds so simple yet delicious!
Wow yummy!!!!!!!!
looks yumm..and love the yummy recipe..
That’s a lovely rice! Very scrumptious and sweeeeeet! Yummy!
Mouthwatering recipe Malar,looks nice!
Very new to me…..Looks delicious.
wow!!! thats a new,easy and fabulously yummy recipe..
Very interesting dessert. Me too love to have a dessert after each meal…can’t control my temptation on seeing this zarda. Perfect one for a grand dinner.
Never heard of this sweet rice malar…looks yumm with all nuts
Desserts always last for me,love the nutty tangy sweet zarda
Malar !! this is new version of sweetened rice..Sure adding lemon would flavlour up the rice…your picture looks so yummy and tempting..
Very different never tasted Zarda before!
never had a lemon zarda but it sounds so fresh!!
even i don’t believe that deserts are to digest the food (n not to make it heavier)he he…
whenever we make zarda we have it as a meal ( at home) accompanied by fresh curds …my husband likes it this way…with lots of lemons in the garden i may try this one..
I m a big fan of Zarda n the touch of lemon zest will surely enhance its taste.
I always associated Zarda with Paan never thought it can be sweetened rice too..thanks for the lovely recipe.
Hey Malar,
Dis takes me down memory lane, when i was a kid my mum used to make it during diner parties…n de way we kids relished it…we even licked the bowls…hahha.
Thks for reviving my memory, will try to mk some in de weekend.
Cheers.
looks too good.
very original!! love it!!
This dish is to me Malar…sounds delicious…I too need to have something sweet after a delicious and spicy meal…gives some more comfort I think
Very new recipe… thanks for sharing Malar
Oh, your rice dish looks and sounds exceeding delicious! I’ll add this recipe to my collection, thanks for sharing, Malar:)