Zarda (food)

Zarda
	A plate of coloured zarda, flavoured with various ingredients
Alternative names	Zorda, Jarda, Jorda
Course	Dessert
Place of origin	Indian subcontinent
Region or state	Indian subcontinent
Associated national cuisine	Pakistan, India, Bangladesh
Main ingredients	Rice, raisins, cardamom, saffron, pistachios or almonds
Variations	Mutanjan
Food energy; (per serving)	400-600 kcal (-2112 kJ)
	Cookbook: Zarda;

Zarda (Hindi: ज़र्दा, Urdu: زردہ, Bengali: জর্দা ) is a traditional boiled sweet rice dish, native to the Indian subcontinent, made with saffron, milk and sugar, and flavoured with cardamoms, raisins, pistachios or almonds.^[1]^[2] The name Zarda comes from Persian word 'zard' زرد meaning 'yellow',^[2] hence named since the food coloring added to the rice gives it a yellow color. Zarda is typically served after a meal. In the Indian subcontinent, zarda was and still remains a popular dessert on special occasions such as weddings. It is very similar to Sholezard, an Iranian dessert.

Often in Pakistan, instead of yellow food coloring, multiple food colorings are added so the rice grains are of multiple colors. Additionally, khoya, candied fruits (murabba) and nuts are an essential part of zarda made at auspicious occasions. There also is a popular use of raisins, and other dried fruits to dish.

Dating back to Mughal India, zarda had a variation with an addition of small fried sweetmeat pieces called 'Mutanjan'. This dish was a favourite of Emperor Shahjahan and was often made on his request. This rice dish was made for guests at special banquets.

The Assyrian people have also this dish (with the same name), mostly made while fasting,so without dairy products in it.