Sweet brown rice recipe/Meetha chawal with gur is a popular North Indian rice-based sweet dish. Made with brown rice, dry fruits, spices and jaggery it is mildly sweetened in taste.
About sweet rice
Sweet rice is also known as meetha rice or zarda rice and is a part of Mughals cuisine. This sweet dish is mainly prepared during festivals, weddings or on special occasions. There is also a tradition of making meetha rice on Basant Panchami in India.
It is a sweet pulao recipe with dry fruits and spices. Traditionally, it is made with long basmati rice cooked in yellow coloured water and sugar is added in the last to make them sweet. Mawa or khoa is also added to give it a rich taste. But it is optional if you like you can add otherwise skip.
Today, the recipe that I am sharing with you is a bowl of sweet rice made with brown rice and jaggery. It is a healthy twist to the traditional recipe. Brown rice and jaggery both are considered healthier than basmati rice and white sugar.
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What is brown rice
Brown rice is a whole grain that is unrefined and unpolished. As compared to white rice, it is a healthier choice and rich in nutrients. Brown rice is produced by removing the hull (a hard protective covering) and intact with nutrient-packed bran and germ layer. It is more chewer in texture than white rice and has a nutty taste.
Due to its high nutritional profile, it is a staple food in many Asian countries. Also, brown rice takes a longer time to cook than white rice.
About sweet brown rice recipe
For making sweet pulao with brown rice, first, we cook brown rice and then add the rest of the ingredients. Brown rice is hard to cook and take a longer time than regular rice. I have used a pressure cooker to cook them faster but if you cook them in an open saucepan it will take around 40-50 minutes. Don’t add sugar or jaggery in the starting because the rice will not cook well.
Ingredients used in the making of sweet brown rice
Brown rice– I have used medium length brown from the Patanjali brand for this recipe. You can easily use any other brand of your choice. I opted for brown rice as it is much healthier and nutrient-dense as compared to white rice.
Jaggery– jaggery is rich in minerals and gives a light brown colour to sweet rice. No artificial colour is used to give them a yellow colour.
Ghee– provides a nice aroma and add softness to the dish. Can also be replaced with coconut oil or groundnut oil if you like.
Dry fruits– you can add any dry fruits of your choice. I added cashews, almonds, raisins and watermelon seeds.
Spices– cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg powder, and black pepper powder not only provide an aroma but a nice flavour too.
Health benefits of brown rice
- Brown rice is rich in calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, selenium, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B6, and fibre.
- It contains two types of antioxidants phenol and flavonoids which reduce cell damage and premature ageing.
- Due to its high fibre content, it keeps you full for a longer time that helps in weight loss.
- Has a low glycemic index and thus controls blood sugar levels in the body.
- Helps in reducing cholesterol levels and is also beneficial in the treatment of various diseases like Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s.
Step by step preparation of zarda rice pulao
- Wash rice, add water and soak them for about half an hour.
2. Take a pressure cooker, add ghee, wait till it warm.
3. Now add dry fruits and roast them till they become nice golden in colour. Transfer to a plate.
4. Then add cinnamon, cardamom powder, nutmeg powder and black pepper powder, mix well. Add soaked rice and once again mix well. Close the lid and pressure cook up to 8 whistles on medium high flame.
5. Mix crushed jaggery and hot water in a bowl and keep aside till it dissolves.
6. Once the pressure is released, open the lid of pressure cooker and check if rice is cooked well or not. If seems little hard add 2-3 tbsp water and pressure cook again for 1-2 whitsles.
7. Rice is well cooked, add roasted dry fruits and jaggery water mixture to it.
8. Swtich on the flame on cook rice on high flame till all the moisture absorbs. Off the flame cover the pressure cooker and leave it for 5-7 minutes.
9. After 5 minutes, serve warm sweet rice with raita or curd. ENJOY!
Serving suggestion
Serve warm sweet rice at lunch, dinner or packed in the tiffin for kid’s lunch. It is a perfect side dish for parties, get to gether or a sweet dish after a warm main meal.
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Tips and tricks
- Wash rice few times with water to remove starch and get a nice non sticky texture.
- Brown rice took a longer time to cook, so cook it patiently till it becomes soft.
- Add jaggery surup only when the rice is cooked.
- You can add more or less jaggery according to your taste.
- You can also add a little turmeric powder to give it a yellow colour without using any artificial colour.
Recipe card
Sweet brown rice recipe/Meetha chawal with gur
Ingredients
- 150 gm rice
- 300 ml water
- 1½ tbsp ghee
- 2 tbsp cashews
- 2 tbsp almonds
- 2 tbsp raisins
- 2 tbsp watermelon seeds
- 1 piece cinnamon stick
- ½ tsp cardamom powder
- ¼ tsp nutmeg powder
- ¼ tsp black pepper powder
- 75 gm jaggery
- 50 ml hot water
Instructions
- Wash rice, add water and soak them for about half an hour.
- Take a pressure cooker, add ghee, wait till it warm.
- Now add dry fruits and roast them till they become nice golden in colour. Transfer to a plate.
- Then add cinnamon, cardamom powder, nutmeg powder and black pepper powder, mix well. Add soaked rice and once again mix well. Close the lid and pressure cook up to 8 whistles on medium high flame.
- Mix crushed jaggery and hot water in a bowl and keep aside till it dissolves.
- Once the pressure is released, open the lid of pressure cooker and check if rice is cooked well or not. If seems little hard add 2-3 tbsp water and pressure cook again for 1-2 whitsles.
- Rice is well cooked, add roasted dry fruits and jaggery water mixture to it.
- Swtich on the flame on cook rice on high flame till all the moisture absorbs. Off the flame cover the pressure cooker and leave it for 5-7 minutes.
- After 5 minutes, serve warm sweet rice with raita or curd. ENJOY!
Video
Notes
- Brown rice took a longer time to cook, so cook it patiently till it becomes soft.
- Add jaggery surup only when the rice is cooked.
- You can add more or less jaggery according to your taste.
- You can also add a little turmeric powder to give it a yellow colour without using any
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