SWEET SAFFRON RICE (KESARI PULAO)

Sweet Saffron Rice (Kesari Pulao) is a festival dish prepared during Vasant Panchami in India. It is a spring festival celebrated during the months of January-February to welcome spring season after cold spell of winter. Sweet Saffron Rice is among the various offerings to Goddess Saraswati on this occasion. The significance of yellow colour comes from the blooming mustard fields during the season.

Ingredients

1.   3/4 cup basmati rice soaked in water for 1/2 hour

2.   1/2 tsp saffron strands soaked in 2 tbsp hot milk

3.   3/4 cup cold milk

4.   4 tbsp (or as per taste) sugar

5.   3 tbsp ghee/clarified butter

6.   1“cinnamon stick

7.   3-4 crushed cardamoms

8.   1 tbsp dry coconut (copra) cut in small pieces & lightly fried.

9.   2 tbsp thick cream

10. Handful of flaked almonds, pistachios, walnuts & raisins lightly    
      fried.

Method

Boil rice in water alongwith cinnamon stick for 5 minutes or till half cooked. Drain & keep aside. Separately, melt ghee/clarified butter in a pan. To this, add, crushed cardamoms, sugar, cold milk, saffron , coconut  and cook for about 2 minutes. Pour this mixture over rice & mix gently. Cook covered on a low flame. Once the rice is done, fold in cream & dry fruits, i.e., flaked almonds, pistachios, walnuts & raisins. Remove from fire after one minute & serve hot.