Kesari Bath | Saffron Sweet Rice | Zarda
Kesari Bath (Zarda) is a classic, rich, and delicious Indian dessert prepared using rice, ghee, sugar, and saffron (kesar). This saffron-flavored sweet rice pudding recipe is a total crowd-pleaser and perfect for festive occasions like Navratri, Diwali, Ganesh Chaturthi, and Eid.
Servings: 12
Calories: 220kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup Basmati rice
- ¼ cup Milk
- 20 Starnds Saffron kesar
- ½ cup Ghee divided
- 3 to 4 Cloves
- 3 tablespoon Cashews chopped
- 3 tablespoon Raisins
- 1 cup Sugar
- ½ teaspoon Cardamom powder optional
Instructions
- Nicely wash and drain the rice.1 cup Basmati rice
- Add this to the boiling water and cook until rice is soft and fully cooked. Drain and keep this aside.
- In a small bowl, add milk and saffron strands and mix. Keep this aside.¼ cup Milk, 20 Starnds Saffron
- Heat ¼ cup ghee in a pan. Add cloves and cashews and saute until light golden. Add raisins and saute for a few seconds. Transfer to a plate.½ cup Ghee, 3 to 4 Cloves, 3 tablespoon Cashews, 3 tablespoon Raisins
- To the same pan, add another ¼ cup of ghee and cooked rice and mix well.
- Add sugar and mix well. Cook this on a medium flame for 10 to 12 minutes or until ghee leaves the sides of the pan. Keep stirring to prevent it from burning at the bottom.
- Add roasted nuts, saffron soaked in milk, cardamom powder and mix well. Cook this for another 4 to 5 minutes.1 cup Sugar, ½ teaspoon Cardamom powder
- Serve this delicious sweet rice and enjoy.
Video
Notes
- The ratio for rice: sugar: ghee is 1:1:½. You can adjust as per your liking.
- You can cook the rice in a pressure cooker or instant pot to make this saffron rice.
- For a more intense flavor, saffron and cloves can also be added to the rice.
- The more the ghee, the better the taste.
- I have not added any colors. This comes from the kesar itself.
- Once it comes to room temperature, leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
Nutrition
Calories: 220kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 6mg | Potassium: 100mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 17IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg