This is a sweet rice with a distinct flavour of kesar,usually made during festive time….

I usually make it on Narali Pournima,a day before Raksha Bandhan and add freshly grated coconut to this recipe.

Ingredients:

1 cup Basmati rice (washed,soaked for half an hour & drained)

1 & 1/2 cup Boiling water.

3/4 cup Sugar.

1/4 cup water.

1/2 cup grated Coconut ( Optional)

1/4 cup soaked and chopped Nuts(Almonds,cashewnuts,raisins).

1 tbsp Ghee

7 cloves.

5 Green cardamoms

A stick of Cinnamon.

Kesar a few strands.

1/2 tsp Catdamom powder.

Salt to taste.

Method:

Heat ghee in a pan,add green cardamom,cinnamon and cloves,wait till they splutter.

Add rice and salt.Add boiling hot water and mix well.Cook covered till rice is 3/4th done.

Remove in a big plate and spread to cool.

In a thick bottom pan,mix water and sugar,heat on a slow flame to form sugar syrup.Add strands of kesar and cardamom powder in it.Take a bowl of cold water,drop a drop of syrup in the water,if a semi hard ball is formed,syrup is ready.

In the ready syrup,add cooked rice and chopped nuts,grated coconut (optional)mix well with light hand.

Cover and simmer till sugar syrup is completely absorbed in the rice and rice is completely cooked.

Serve hot.

Happy Cooking !!!

Sameera.