1 cup basmati rice, soaked for 1 hour
1/2 cup sugar
3 tbsp ghee or butter
3 cloves
4 green cardamoms
1 tbsp raisins, soaked in water
1 tbsp almonds, blanched & shredded
1/2 tsp saffron, soaked in 2 tbsp of warm water or a few drops of yellow color
1/2 tsp ruh kewra or 2 drops of kewra essence
5-7 green pistachio nuts
1 silver leaf (optional)

Tarda Pulao (Sweet Rice)

1. Mix 3/4 cup of water and sugar in a small pan and boil for few minutes. Remove from flame and keep aside.
2. Heat ghee in a heavy bottomed pan and add cloves and cardamoms. Fry until cardamoms change color.
3. Also add raisins and almonds. Fry till raisins swell. To this, add rice and 1 1/2 cups of water. Mix gently.
4. Add saffron or yellow color to the rice and boil until the rice is almost done and water gets absorbed.
5. Add kewra essence to the sugar syrup. Mix and add the sugar syrup to the cooked rice. Stir the rice very gently and cook further for 4-5 minutes till the rice is done.
6. Garnish with a silver leaf, shredded pista and a few whole almonds.