Meethe Chawal, or Zarda Rice, is a sweet, rich saffron rice adorned with nuts and raisins. This aromatic, sweet, saffron-flavored rice is a royal dessert made on special occasions and festivals. This easy recipe can be made with a few ingredients in one pot in less than 30 minutes!

Zarda. Meethe Chawal, in a brass plate wit nuts and raisins
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This sweet rice is popularly known in North India as Meethe Chawal. Meethe Chawal translates to “sweet rice”. In Pakistan as Zarda rice or Zafrani pulao. The name Zarda comes from the Persian word ‘zard’, which‬ means ‘yellow’. Hence, this sweet saffron rice is yellow colored. This recipe is gluten-free and can easily be made vegan.

In North India, this sweet rice is prepared at the festival of Lohri and served at weddings. My mom recently suggested I make this easy recipe; my readers will love it. So, I am sharing her recipe for the stovetop, which has also been adapted to the instant pot.

Some other desserts I have learned from my mom that are always a hit on any occasion are Rice Kheer, carrot halwa, or this Thandai (saffron-flavored milk) for the Holi festival.

We make this Zarda Sweet Saffron Rice with aromatic whole spices sautéed in ghee, saffron soaked in warm milk, which gives the rice its bright yellow color, and lots of crunchy nuts and raisins. Typically, when making Zarda rice, food color is added. However, I prefer to use the natural color of saffron, so I have skipped food coloring in this recipe.

Table of Contents

Watch How to Make Zarda Sweet Rice

Indian Sweet Rice in a bronze plate

Zarda Ingredients

Let’s start with getting the ingredients ready. You might have most of the ingredients in your pantry.

This recipe uses cashews, almonds, and raisins, but you can substitute any nuts you have on hand.

Sella basmati rice is the best to use when making meethe chawal. However, regular long-grain basmati rice works excellently in this recipe, too. I used regular basmati rice, as I did not want to buy a specific variety of rice just for one dish, and I am sure you all will prefer the same 🙂

Zarda sweet rice ingredients

How to make Zarda Rice on the stovetop?

There are two ways to make this Zarda Rice on the stovetop. The first is in a stovetop pressure cooker, which you can follow the same steps as the Instant Pot method. Pressure cook for 1-2 whistles and let the pressure release naturally. I suggest increasing the water to 1.25 cups when cooking in the stovetop pressure cooker.

To make this sweet rice in a pot, use a heavy bottom pot and heat it on medium-high heat. The initial step to sauté nuts will be the same. Then add the whole spices and rice. Then add 1.5  cups water along with the other ingredients. Change the heat to medium-low and cover the pot with a lid. Stir in between at regular intervals. The rice will take about 15-20 minutes to cook and soak all the liquids. Fluff the rice and add the sautéed golden nuts and raisins.

How to make Meethe Chawal in the Instant Pot?

We will start by soaking saffron in warm milk. We want to soak the saffron for at least 20 minutes before making the rice so that it releases its color into the milk. This will give our rice the perfect yellow hue.

First, heat ghee in the instant pot and sauté the nuts and raisins. Keep stirring until they turn slightly golden, then remove them and set them aside for later.

saute cashews, almonds and raisins in instant pot

Then, add the remaining ghee to the instant pot, add the whole spices, and sauté them for 30 seconds until their aroma is released. Then add the washed basmati rice and sauté for 2 minutes.

add basmati rice in instant pot

Now add the sugar, saffron milk, and water. Close the lid and pressure cook the rice.

add saffron milk and water into the instant pot

I pressure-cooked the rice for 4 minutes and released the pressure manually 5 minutes after the beep. If you are using Sella basmati rice, pressure-cook it for 6 minutes, as it takes longer to cook. We want to be sure not to overcook the rice, as we want each grain to be separate.

cooked zarda sweet rice in instant pot

After opening the instant pot, fluff the rice with a fork. Then add the sautéed nuts we had kept aside. You can also add desiccated coconut. Adding coconut is not typical in North India. However, it is common in Maharashtra in Western India, where this same dish is called Sweet Coconut Rice.

zarda sweet rice cooked in instant pot

Check out these 20 delicious Indian Desserts made in the Instant Pot.

Pro-Tips

  • Soak the saffron in warm milk for 20 minutes to an hour to give it enough time to release the color and aroma.
  • Use nuts of your choice. We prefer almonds, cashews, and raisins.
  • As the sugar heats, it releases liquid. Hence, we add less water to this rice.
  • Do not overcook the rice; we want each grain of rice to be separate.
  • Save some toasted nuts and raisins to garnish when serving.
zarda sweet rice in a clay bowl

Serve warm and enjoy the aroma and delicious taste of this fragrant Zarda Sweet Rice!

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close up shot of zarda sweet rice in a bronze plate
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4.88 from 16 votes

Zarda Sweet Rice (Meethe Chawal)

By: Meeta Arora
Meethe Chawal, or Zarda Rice, is a sweet, rich saffron rice adorned with nuts and raisins. This aromatic, sweet, saffron-flavored rice is a royal dessert made on special occasions and festivals. This easy recipe can be made with a few ingredients in one pot in less than 30 minutes!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 5

Video

Ingredients 

US Customary – Metric

Instructions 

  • Heat milk in a microwave for 20 seconds or on stovetop till warm. Soak saffron in it. 

Instant Pot Recipe

  • Start the instant pot in Sauté mode and heat 1 tablespoon ghee in it. Add cashews, sliced almonds and raisins. Saute for a minute while stirring until they turn golden brown in color. Remove the nuts and raisins in a bowl and set aside. 
  • Add the remaining ghee to the pot, add cardamom, cloves and cinnamon. Saute  for 30 seconds as their aroma releases. 
  • Add the rinsed rice and toast gently for 2 minutes stirring constantly.
  • Add sugar, saffron milk, and water. Press Cancel and close the lid with the vent in the sealing position. 
  • Set the instant pot in pressure cook (manual) mode for 4 minutes at high pressure. When the instant pot beeps, do a 5-minute NPR. This means let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes, then release the pressure manually. (If using sella basmati rice, pressure cook for 6 minutes)
  • Open the lid and fluff the rice with a fork. Now add the toasted cashews, almonds and raisins. Add the desiccated coconut if using. Mix gently. 
  • Zarda Rice is ready. Enjoy warm! 

Stovetop Pressure Cooker Recipe

  • Follow the same steps, increase water to 1 1/4 cups and pressure cook for 1-2 whistles. Then let the pressure release naturally. 

Stovetop Recipe

  • Use a heavy bottom pot and heat 1 tablespoon ghee on medium-high heat. Add cashews, sliced almonds, and raisins. Saute for a minute while stirring until they turn golden brown. Remove the nuts and raisins in a bowl and set aside. 
  • Add the remaining ghee in the pan, add cardamom, cloves and cinnamon. Saute  for 30 seconds so tha their aroma releases. 
  • Add the rinsed rice and toast gently for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Then add 1.5 cups water, sugar, and saffron milk. Bring to a boil.
  • Change the heat to medium-low and cover the pot with a lid. Stir in between at regular intervals. It will take about 15-20 minutes for the rice to cook and soak the liquids. 
  • Fluff the rice and add the sautéed golden nuts and raisins. Serve meethe chawal warm! 

Notes

Vegan Variation: Replace ghee with coconut oil and milk with almond or coconut milk. 
Make it yellower: You can use turmeric or natural yellow food coloring if you like to make the rice look more yellow.

Nutrition

Calories: 339kcalCarbohydrates: 57gProtein: 4gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 12mgPotassium: 169mgFiber: 1gSugar: 21gVitamin A: 20IUVitamin C: 0.5mgCalcium: 38mgIron: 1mg

Additional Info

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Indian, Pakistani
Diet: Gluten-free, Vegetarian
Tried this recipe?Mention @pipingpotcurry or tag #pipingpotcurry!

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About Meeta

I strongly believe that each one of us has a chef inside us, we just need to explore the ingredients and create great food. My passion is to share easy, healthy, and wholesome recipes made using Instant Pot & Air Fryer, that are well tested, so you can cook with confidence.

Read More About Me

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4.88 from 16 votes (11 ratings without comment)

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12 Comments

  2. Hello dear
    I am in US with my daughters , one of them is blessed with a baby , I am trying your instant pot recipes daily and coming out wonderful and yummy as always
    Sorry not getting enough time to reply
    Tried the Zarda recipe yesterday night , it was too delicious ❤️
    Just wanted to ask if I gave to cook 4 cups rice as guests are coming over , do we still need to use 4 mins pressure cooker ?
    Thank you
    Arvinder

    Reply

    1. Hello Arvinder – So glad you are enjoying the recipes. Congratulations for your daughter’s baby.
      Even if you increase the quantity (double or triple or more) the pressure cooking time will remain the same.

      Reply

  3. I made Zarda rice first time from your recipe for my daughter in-law’s baby shower. It was so good. Everyone one appreciated. Thank you so much meeta 🙏🙏

    Reply

  5. Absolutely perfect !!!! I used 1/4 cup of brown sugar and added few dried apricots (cut up) to raisins , and it turned out amazing ! Will definitely be making it again !

    Reply