Hyderabadi Zafrani Pulao (Sweet Saffron Pulao)

Drooling over the pictures? Zafrani Pulao or Sweet Saffron Pulao is a delicacy made using rice, saffron, sugar and dry fruits and is served especially during festival time. Here is how to make it.

Sometimes the simplest dishes bring back memories of a grand celebration. Am I right?

This delicious Zafrani Pulao is one such dish that everyone at home loves to relish, especially during Choti Diwali.

In fact, this pulao has turned out to be a hot favourite rice dish in our household and one that’s synonymous with celebration.

An exotic mix of ingredients gives it a royal touch.

As the name suggests, this pulao boasts of the aromatic and tantalizing flavours of saffron beautifully interwoven into a mouth-watering rice dish.

It is also a popular dish to make for Eid and I still remember eating it at many of my Muslim friend’s houses.

Process

To make this pulao, rice is to be soaked before cooking for about half an hour.

Then milk, yellow food colouring, saffron, rose water and sugar are mixed together in a bowl and kept aside, the smell of this sensational dish wafting in the air as you go ahead with the rest of the preparation.

Water is heated in a pan and to this rice is added and cooked till it’s done.

Some ghee is added to the rice and it’s kept aside.

In another pan, all the other ingredients like coconut, almond, cashew nuts, chironji and raisins are added and fried until golden brown.

Then the spices like cardamom, black cardamom and cloves are added and fried.

Once done, the aromatic milk concoction created earlier is added and brought to a boil.

Then the rice is added in and mixed and left to cook completely.

You can fluff the rice a little bit and this Zafrani pulao is to be served hot.

With gorgeous yellow colour and a lovely mix of flavours and aromas, this is one simple, yet special dish that can be prepared for pretty much any occasion.

The royal flavours of this dish are going to come through on the very first bite and there is no stopping from there.

The tinge of sweetness makes this pulao stand out and give it a very unique taste compared to the other pulao recipes.

Do you have a festive special recipe to share with me?

Some of the other pulao recipes you could try are Tawa Pulao, Bengali Mishti Pulao, Veg Pulao, Spinach Millet Pulao and a simple One Pot Tomato Chicken Pulao.

So the next time you’re planning on making something exotic to surprise your guests, give this pulao a try and they are sure to love it, celebrating every bite.

There is also a very similar dessert made in Hyderabad that’s called Zarda Pulao, which tends to be a little more on the sweeter side. 

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Step by Step Recipe

To start with, gently wash the rice in running water and soak in 2-3 cups of water for ½ hour. Now mix milk, yellow food colour, saffron, rose water and sugar in a bowl and keep aside.

Heat 4-5 cups water in a pan and when it comes to a boil, add the soaked rice in the pan.

Cook on low heat till the rice is just done.

You can check by pressing one grain in between your fingers. The rice should be just done and not mushy.

Strain the rice in a sieve and mix a tsp of ghee in it and then keep it aside.

Heat the remaining ghee in another pan.

Once the ghee is hot, add coconut, almonds, cashew nuts, chironji and raisins and fry until they turn slightly brown.

Now add cardamom, black cardamom and cloves and fry for 20 seconds.

Add the milk mixture in the pan and bring it to a boil.

Simmer the heat and add the rice and mix gently.

Cover the pan with a lid and cook on low heat for 15-20 minutes.

Gently fluff the rice with a fork and serve hot.