Zerde is a saffron-yellow rice pudding made with water rather than milk, served at weddings, religious holidays and celebrations in Turkey. Serve it with turkish tea.
Zerde (Turkish Saffron Rice Pudding)
Dessert
Candy confections
Easy
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A bright, translucent saffron pudding of tender rice thickened lightly with starch and scented with rose water. It is served chilled with currants, nuts and pomegranate seeds. Makes 8 bowls in about 4 hr.
Prep
15 min
Cook
45 min
Cooling
3 hr
Total
4 hr
Yield
8 bowls
Diet
Gluten free, Vegan
Ingredients
Adjust yield
bowls
Scales from a half to a double batch; give a bigger batch a little more time.
- 3 oz (90 g)short-grain rice, rinsed
- 3 ¾ cups (900 ml)water
- 1 pinchsaffron threads, about 0.5 g
- ¼ cup (60 ml)hot water for saffron
- 2 tbsp (15 g)cornstarch
- ¼ cup (60 ml)cold water
- 1 cup (180 g)sugar
- 1 tbsp (15 ml)rose water
- 1 ½ oz (40 g)currants, soaked in warm water 10 minutes and drained
- ⅓ cup (40 g)hazelnuts, toasted, chopped
- ¼ cup (40 g)pomegranate seeds
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Instructions
- Steep the saffron in the hot water for 15 minutes.
- Simmer the rice in the 900 ml water over low heat, partly covered, for about 30 minutes until very tender and the grains are soft.
- Stir the cornstarch into the cold water and pour it in, stirring, then cook 5 minutes until lightly thickened.
- Add the saffron and its liquid and the sugar and stir over low heat 3 to 5 minutes until the sugar dissolves and the color is a bright gold.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the rose water.
- Ladle into 8 small bowls and cool at room temperature 30 minutes, then refrigerate at least 2 hours.
- Serve chilled, topped with currants, hazelnuts and pomegranate seeds.
Tips
- Crush the saffron lightly with a pinch of sugar for deeper color.
- Zerde should be loosely set and spoonable, not stiff.
- Add a little hot water if it sets too firmly.
- Good with turkish tea.
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Recipe FAQ
How long does it take to make zerde (turkish saffron rice pudding)?
Plan on 15 minutes of prep and 45 minutes of cooking, plus 3 hours to chill. The recipe makes 8 bowls.
How should I store zerde (turkish saffron rice pudding)?
Cover and refrigerate up to 3 days. Add the garnish just before serving.
Can I make zerde (turkish saffron rice pudding) ahead?
Yes. It needs time to chill and set, so it is a good one to make the day before you serve it.
Is this recipe vegan?
Yes, as written. Check that packaged ingredients such as chocolate, sprinkles and plant butter are labeled vegan.
Estimated · per serving
Nutrition
Per serving = 1 of 8 servings this recipe makes.
185
Calories / serving
3.2g
Fat
38.8g
Carbs
1.7g
Protein
26.4g
Sugar
Whole recipe (8 servings): ~1480 cal · 26g fat · 310g carbs · 14g protein · 211g sugar
Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.
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