Zarda (Pakistani Sweet Saffron Rice)
Fragrant basmati rice cooked with sugar, saffron and whole spices and finished with nuts and raisins.
- Time50 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £0.62 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
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Method
- 1
Bring 1.5 litres of water to the boil in a large pan. Add the drained rice and boil for 5 to 6 minutes until three quarters cooked. Drain.
6 min - 2
Melt the ghee in a heavy pan. Fry the cardamom, cloves and cinnamon for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- 3
Add the almonds, raisins and coconut and fry for 1 minute until the coconut is pale gold. Remove half and set aside for the top.
- 4
Dissolve the saffron and turmeric in the 500 ml hot water, then add the sugar and heat until it dissolves. Pour into the pan.
- 5
Layer in the partly cooked rice, cover with a tight lid and cook on the lowest heat for 15 minutes.
15 min - 6
Rest for 10 minutes off the heat, then fluff gently with a fork and scatter over the reserved nuts, raisins and coconut.
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.
