MEETHE CHAWAL / SWEET YELLOW RICE

Meethe Chawal or sweet rice is a sweet dessert of Punjab. It has chosen assortment of Indian spices like green cardamom, clove, cinnamon and kesar that makes it colorful and aromatic. Added dry fruits makes it all the more tasty.

It is made mainly during festivals and special ceremonies. But some sweets can be enjoyed without special occasions too and meethe chawal is one of them.

So Let's begin.

INGREDIENTS
1 cup Basamati rice

2 cups water
1 cup sugar
10-15 kesar strands (saffron)
2-3 cloves (laung)
1/2 cinnamon stick or cinnamon powder ( I used cinnamon powder)
1 tsp cardamom powder (elachi powder)
few dry fruits of your choice

METHOD
1. Wash and soak rice for 2 hours.

2. Drain the water.

3. In heavy bottomed pan or wok, add 2 cups of water, clove, cinnamon, cardamom powder and kesar. Bring it to boil.

4. Once it comes to boiling point, add drained rice. Mix well.

5. Cover and cook on medium flame for 10-12 minutes. At this stage it should by 80% cooked.

6. Add sugar and keep the flame low to medium. After adding sugar cover it again for 2 minutes or till sugar releases the water.

7. Once sugar releases the water, open the lid, add ghee and increase the flame to high or medium and let all the water absorb, mix occasionally with very light hands to avoid breakage of rice.

8. Once water is completely absorbed, turn off the flame and add nuts of your choice. Serve hot.

NOTES:
Initially after cooking rice, it might look little sticky, leave it open and let it cool down completely. After sometime you will see the rice is perfect and grainy.

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