Meethe Chawal Recipe: How To Make Zarda Pulao

Meethe chawal is a popular North Indian sweet that is prepared mainly during festivals. It is also known as zarda pulao. Here is a detailed preparation method with images and a video.

Saturday, August 19, 2017, 10:37 [IST]

Meethe Chawal is a popular North Indian sweet that is prepared for most of the festivals and special occasions. This sweet is also called zarda pulao and is prepared during Eid, whereas Jains make the meethe chawal for Paryushan.

The sweet rice has the basic ingredients of basmati rice and sugar; however, certain dry Indian spices are also added to the sweet to give it a nice aroma and flavour. The fragrant sweet zarda pulao is yellow in colour and this colour is got by adding a little food colouring.

The meethe chawal is quick and easy to make at home. This sweet is a perfect dessert to any meal and is also a simple one to make for parties and home-bound functions. So, if you would like to try this recipe at home, here is the video followed by the step-by-step procedure along with images.

MEETHE CHAWAL RECIPE VIDEO

Meethe Chawal Recipe | How To Make Zarda Pulao | Sweet Rice Recipe | Sweet Yellow Rice Recipe

Prep Time

5 Mins

Cook Time

35M

Total Time

40 Mins

Recipe By: Meena Bhandari

Recipe Type: Sweets

Serves: 2

Ingredients

Basmati rice - 1 cup

Sugar - ½ a cup

Cloves - 3-4

Bay leaf (tej patta) - 1

Ghee - 2 tbsp

Saffron food colouring - ½ a tsp

Chopped almonds - 1 tsp

Chopped pistachios (soaked in water for 5 minutes) - 1 tsp

Cardamom powder - 1 tsp

Saffron strands - for garnishing

Water - 2¾th cups + for rinsing

How to Prepare

1. Add the basmati rice in a strainer.

2. Pour water and wash the rice thoroughly.

3. Transfer it into a bowl.

4. Add a cup of water, just enough to submerge the rice and soak it for 5 minutes.

5. Meanwhile, add ghee into a heated pan.

6. Then, add the bay leaf and cloves.

7. Further, add the rice and 1¾th cups of water.

8. Add the saffron food colouring and mix well.

9. Cover it with a lid and allow it to cook for 10 minutes on a low flame.

10. Open the lid and add the sugar.

11. Mix well; and when the sugar starts to melt, cover it with the lid again.

12. Turn off the stove and allow it to cook in the heat for about 5-10 minutes.

13. Add cardamom powder, chopped almonds and pistachios.

14. Mix well and cover it with the lid again for a minute.

15. Transfer into a serving bowl and garnish with saffron strands.