Kesari Bhaat - केसरी भात (Saffron Infused Sweet Rice Preparation) - A Rajasthani Delicacy for my 401st Post

Hello Friends,


Updated: I had mistakenly written as 301st post whereas it is 401st. Silly me !!! :)


Wow, time just flies by, especially when you busy like hell. I have no memory of how these last couple of months passed. One more day and it will be September, whoa !!! Where has all the time gone? When I wake up in the morning, I usually consider that day almost done as it will pass without me doing anything, busy, busy, busy. 


OK, enough babbling. Today I am so happy that I am actually writing my 301st post. Can you believe, 401st post? It has been about 1.5 years since I started this blog, which was just an effort to have some Rajasthani recipes in one place as I did not find a single blog which had a lot of those. Most of the places had only those well-known 5 or 6 recipes. I am so proud to say that my blog boasts of about 90+ traditional Rajasthani and slight fusion recipes.


Also wanted to mention that I have now 316 follows (thanks everyone) and 228,729 hits.


Thank you to all my blogger friends and readers for their continued support and encouragement to make this blog what it is. If you all were not there, this blog wouldn't be where it is today. Thanks !!!


To celebrate this occasion, I am sharing a traditional and very commonly made Rajasthani sweet rice preparation. If you guys ever had Zarda recipe (a traditional Muslim Rice preparation), this is very similar to that.  Very easy to make and a perfect way to end your meal. I apologize for not a great picture. I was in real rush when I took it. When I make it again, I will try to replace this pic with a better one.


Kesari Bhaat - केसरी भात (Saffron Infused Sweet Rice Preparation)

Ingredients
Long Grain White Rice - 1 cup
Boiling Water - 1.5 - 2 cups (keep an eye on the rice while cooking and add more, if needed)
Sugar - 3/4 cup (adjust the quantity to suit your needs)
Saffron - a few strands (soaked in few tbsp of warm water)
Mixed nuts - 1/4 cup of your choice
Green Cardamom Powder - 1/2 tsp
Ghee (Clarified Butter) -2 tbsp
Preparation

• Wash and Soak rice for 1-2 hours. Drain after the period.
• Meanwhile in a non-stick pan take 1/2 tbsp ghee and fry your choice of mixed nuts) and keep separate.
• Take a heavy bottomed pan (to make sure that rice doesn't stick to the bottom) and add the remaining ghee.
• Once ghee is hot, add drained rice and fry till rice becomes translucent.
• Add boiling water to it along with saffron infused water and let it cook covered till it is about 3/4 way  cooked. Keep stirring every few minutes to make sure it doesn't stick to the bottom.
• Now, add sugar and cardamom powder. Mix well and cook to perfection.
• Mix in fried nuts and serve warm.
• Because of all the ghee and frying rice, the rice grains will be very fluffed and separate and not become mushy, unless you add a lot of water or overcook this recipe.

Serving
This is traditionally made on occasions as a perfect ending of a feast. Enjoy !!!


At this point, I also want to apologize to my fellow bloggers as I haven't been as regular in checking everyone's blogs as I was before. I am trying my best, but something it gets difficult to check every post. But, that is not an excuse, I will give it my best, I promise :)


That's all for now. Take care till next post.