About Meethe Chawal
Desserts made with rice are widely popular in the Indian subcontinent. As per the folklore, it is considered a good omen, to combine rice with sugar, and milk and serve as a sacred offering to the deity of the family. Meethe Chawal is one such popular festive Indian dessert. The dish has different regional names – mishti pulao, zarda, sweet rice, meetha pulao. All these regional names refer to a decadent, aromatic, sweet, and savory rice pulao. The earthy taste of whole spices and the sweetness of saffron make this sweet pulao a perfect melody of flavors. Enriched with the aroma of saffron and cardamom, this zarda pulao is the fitting end to a conventional festive meal.
My Tried & True Tips
Always make sure to use long grain good quality basmati rice for making the zarda. While cooking rice for zarda, make sure it is not mushy or sticky. Hence, it is best to cook it in a wide heavy bottom saucepan. After cooking the rice for meethe chawal, allow it to sit on a colander for a few minutes to drain all the water from the rice. This step helps in making a perfectly fluffy zarda. Many recipes suggest adding food color, but I stick only to saffron and a tiny bit of turmeric. To make Zarda pulao more rich and indulgent, one can add grated khoya (mawa), orange zest, fried coconut, edible rose petals, and chironji.
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Storing Suggestion
The leftover sweet pulao or meethe chawal can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 – 5 days. Allow the zarda to cool down completely before storing.
How To Reheat
Microwave Method: Transfer the sweet rice to a microwave-safe bowl, cover the bowl with a lid, heat for 3 minutes, stir the rice using a fork and once again heat for another 3 minutes. This way you will get perfectly warm sweet pulao. Gas Stove Method: Transfer sweet pulao to a heavy bottom frying pan. Sprinkle ¼ cup of water over the rice. Then, close the pan with a lid and heat over low flame for 3 – 5 minutes. Don’t forget to stir the pulao halfway through the heating time.
More Mughlai Dessert Recipes
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