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Zarda Pulao in a silver serving dish
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5 from 6 votes

Vegan Zarda

Zarda (Zarda Pulao or Meethe Chawal or Sweet Saffron Rice) is an Indian Muslim delicacy. Long grains of fragrant basmati rice are flavored with saffron and tossed together with dry fruits and sugar. It's food at its regal best, but it's also an easy recipe that nearly anyone can pull off in under 30 minutes.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Dessert, Indian sweet
Cuisine: Indian
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings: 12
Calories: 189kcal

Equipment

  • Large wok or skillet

Ingredients

  • 2 generous pinches saffron strands
  • ¼ cup nondairy milk
  • 1 cup basmati rice (soaked in water for 30 minutes)
  • ¼ cup raw cashews
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil (or red palm oil)
  • ½ cup nuts (chopped cashews, almonds, pistachios, walnuts, etc. A mix or just one kind is fine)
  • 2 tablespoon raisins
  • 1 teaspoon ground cardamom (divided)
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg (divided)
  • ¾ cup sugar (most zarda recipes use cup for cup of sugar and rice, but I prefer a little less. Add more sugar if you don't find this sweet enough)
  • ¼ cup sweetened coconut flakes or shreds
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon rose water (make sure it's edible. Optional)

Instructions

  • Stir the saffron strands into the nondairy milk in a small bowl and set aside. Do this as early as possible, even a few hours before you begin to make your dish, for the best color.
  • Soak the cashews in ½ cup water for a few minutes, then blend into a very smooth paste. You can skip the soaking if you have a powerful blender.
  • Soak the basmati rice in water to cover for 30 minutes. Put a large pot of water to boil, the way you would for pasta, but don't salt it. Once the water comes to a rolling boil drain the soaked rice and add it to the boiling water. Cook for 7-8 minutes or until the rice is about 90 percent cooked. The grain should break easily between your teeth, but you should feel a bit of resistance at the center.
  • Once the rice is cooked, strain it immediately and spread it on a large plate for any remaining moisture to evaporate while you proceed with the recipe.
  • Heat the oil in a large wok or wide skillet. Add the raisins and nuts and half the cardamom and nutmeg and saute until the nuts just begin to change color.
  • Add the saffron and milk and the cashew cream to the skillet. Let it come to a boil, then add in the cooked rice. Mix well but use a gentle touch as you don't want the rice grains to break or clump together.
  • Once the rice and saffron milk have merged and there is no visible moisture in the pot, add the sugar. Stir the rice only very slightly after adding the sugar, don't merge it all completely. Cover the pot and let it all cook over medium-low heat for five minutes, undistubed.
  • When you open the pot most of the sugar should have melted and there will be moisture in the pot. Stir fry the rice a bit more until the visible moisture has evaporated and the sugar has glazed the rice. Again, be gentle.
  • Stir in the remaining cardamom, nutmeg, vanilla and rose water, if using. Turn off the heat.
  • Serve at room temperature or chilled. You can garnish with more nuts and coconut flakes before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 189kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 6mg | Potassium: 115mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 21IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg