Sweet Rice
by Tarla Dalal
sweet rice recipe | meethe chawal | Indian sweet rice | zarda pulao | with 27 amazing images.
sweet rice recipe | meethe chawal | Indian sweet rice | zarda pulao is an Indian sweet recipe is a sweet version of pulao with some basic spice and condiments along with sugar. Learn how to make zarda pulao.
To make sweet rice, combine the rice and sugar in a bowl, mix well and keep aside. Heat the ghee in a broad non-stick pan, add the cinnamon, cloves and bay leaves and sauté on a medium flame for 30 seconds. Add the rice-sugar mixture and mix well. Combine the saffron-milk mixture and saffron colour (optional) in a small bowl and mix well. Add this saffron mixture to the rice, mix well and cook on a slow flame for 4 to 5 minutes or till the sugar melts completely, while stirring occasionally. Serve the sweet rice hot garnished with almond and pistachio slivers.
Try this simple version of the popular zarda pulao. With the addition of saffron, cinnamon, cloves and bay leaves, a sweet, spicy aroma fills the whole house kindling everybody’s appetite!
This Indian sweet rice is made on auspicious occasions like vasant Panchami and also cooked as a first dish during house-warming in India. The quintessence of this recipe is perfectly cooked rice with each grain separate like we make for pulao. Learn how to make cooked rice.
You do not need to prepare any syrup for this meetha chawal, as the rice and sugar are cooked together. The flavour and the aroma of this duo is just irresistible! If you like desserts made with rice, then do try recipes from different regions of India like South Indian Paal Payasam, Bengali Payesh, Punjabi Phirni.
Tips for sweet rice. 1. A good quality saffron is required to get the rich hue and aroma of this rice. 2. If you wish you can add a little edible yellow colour to get the perfect yellow coloured rice. 3. After you have cooked the rice, ensure you cool it well by spreading in a flat plate so each grain remains separate.
Enjoy sweet rice recipe | meethe chawal | Indian sweet rice | zarda pulao | with step by step photos and video below.
Sweet Rice recipe - How to make Sweet Rice
Preparation Time: Cooking Time: Total Time:
Makes 6 servings
For The Sweet Rice
7 cups cooked rice (chawal)
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 tbsp ghee
50 cinnamon (dalchini)
2 cloves (laung / lavang)
2 bayleaves (tejpatta)
2 pinches of saffron (kesar) strands dissolved in 2 tbsp warm milk
a few drops of saffron colour
For The Sweet Rice Garnish
2 tbsp almond (badam) slivers
2 tbsp pistachio slivers
For sweet rice
- For sweet rice
- To make {span class="bold1"}sweet rice{/span}, combine the rice and sugar in a bowl, mix well and keep aside.
- Heat the ghee in a broad non-stick pan, add the cinnamon, cloves and bayleaves and sauté on a medium flame for 30 seconds.
- Add the rice-sugar mixture and mix well.
- Combine the saffron-milk mixture and saffron colour (optional) in a small bowl and mix well.
- Add this saffron mixture to the rice, mix well and cook on a slow flame for 4 to 5 minutes or till the sugar melts completely, while stirring occasionally.
- Serve the {span class="bold1"}sweet rice{/span} hot garnished with almond and pistachio slivers.
Sweet Rice Video by Tarla Dalal
If you like this Sweet Rice, then try:
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If you like this sweet rice recipe | meethe chawal | Indian sweet rice | zarda pulao | you can try out other Traditional Indian Mithai recipes like:
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- Jaggery Malpua |
How to make Sweet Rice
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To make sweet rice recipe | meethe chawal | Indian sweet rice | zarda pulao | transfer in a deep bowl and soak in enough water for 30 minutes.
- Drain with the help of a strainer and keep aside.
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Boil enough water in a deep non-stick pan.
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Add a little salt. Do not add too much salt as this is a Sweet Rice recipe.
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Furthermore, add 1 tbsp of oil and mix well.
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Add the rice to the boiling water and mix well.
- Cook on a medium flame for 8 to 10 minutes or till the rice is 90% cooked, while stirring occasionally.
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Strain it using a strainer and let the water drain out. This will give you around 7 cups after cooking. Do not overcook the rice or else they will turn soft and mushy.
- Pour some cold water on the rice to stop further cooking. Let all the water from the rice drain out ensuring that the rice does not contain any moisture.
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Put the cooked rice in a bowl.
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Add the sugar to this. This is a simple recipe for Sweet Rice or meethe chawal that does not require making a sugar syrup. If you want to learn how to make authentic sweet pulao, you can check out the recipe of Zarda Pulao on our website.
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Mix the sugar and rice well and keep aside.
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Take a small bowl and add the warm milk to it.
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Add the saffron strands to it. When saffron is mixed with warm liquid, it releases a beautiful yellow color. If you want, you can add a few drops of saffron food coloring as well though it is not advisable.
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Mix well and keep aside.
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Heat the ghee in a broad non-stick pan and add the cinnamon stick.
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Now add the cloves to this. You can even add cardamom pods to give an amazing flavor and aroma to the Sweet Rice.
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Also add the bayleaves to the ghee. This gives a unique taste.
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Mix well and sauté on a medium flame for 30 seconds till the spices are fragrant.
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Add the rice-sugar mixture to the pan. This sugar will melt and give that amazing sweetness to the Sweet Rice.
- Mix the rice well but make sure to do it gently. We do not want the rice to break or become mushy.
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Add the saffron mixture to the rice.
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Mix this well so that the saffron mixture is evenly spread in the Sweet Rice.
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Cook on a slow flame for 4 to 5 minutes or till the sugar melts completely, while stirring occasionally. Be very gentle while tossing the rice.
- Garnish Sweet Rice with almond slivers.
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Also sprinkle some pistachio slivers on sweet rice | meethe chawal | Indian sweet rice | zarda pulao |
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Serve the sweet rice | meethe chawal | Indian sweet rice | zarda pulao | hot.
| Energy | 349 cal |
| Protein | 1.5 g |
| Carbohydrates | 63 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Fat | 10 g |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg |
| Vitamin A | 89.2 mcg |
| Vitamin B1 | 0 mg |
| Vitamin B2 | 0 mg |
| Vitamin B3 | 0.4 mg |
| Vitamin C | 0 mg |
| Folic Acid | 1.7 mcg |
| Calcium | 2.2 mg |
| Iron | 0.2 mg |
| Magnesium | 19.4 mg |
| Phosphorus | 34.4 mg |
| Sodium | 1.5 mg |
| Potassium | 16.6 mg |
| Zinc | 0.3 mg |
50 What of cinnamon?
Edited after original posting.
Flavorful sweet rice, the sugar is perfectly blended in this recipe, with crunchy almonds and saffron taste. This dish can be prepared on any auspicious and festive day, or anytime when you feel like eating something sweet.
Truly amazing saffron colored sweet rice with the amazing smell of cinnamon, cloves, saffron and baf leaf. The almonds add to the taste and i added a lot more. If you like sweet things, this rice is a must.