Sweet Rice with Dry Fruits Recipe – Aromatic Meethe Chawal with Nuts & Spices
Sweet Rice with Dry Fruits, also known as Meethe Chawal, is a classic Indian dessert loved for its fragrant spices and rich texture. This recipe blends perfectly cooked rice with an assortment of dry fruits and warming spices like cloves, cinnamon, and cardamom, all sweetened with sugar and enriched with ghee. It is an ideal festive treat or a special dish to impress guests.
Ingredients
- 2 cups Basmati rice
- 4 whole cloves
- 1 small cinnamon stick
- 2 green cardamoms
- 10 to 12 almonds, chopped
- 10 to 12 cashews, chopped
- ½ cup raisins
- 4 to 5 pistachios, chopped (for garnish)
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons ghee
- 8 cups water (for boiling rice)
Instructions
- Rinse the rice thoroughly and soak it in water for 30 minutes to soften.
- Bring 8 cups of water to a boil in a large open pan. Add soaked rice to the boiling water.
- Cook rice until it is partially done but still firm (al dente), then drain the water and set rice aside on a plate.
- Heat ghee in a frying pan on medium flame. Add cloves, cinnamon, and cardamom; sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Add chopped almonds, cashews, and raisins to the pan. Roast for 3-4 minutes until nuts are lightly golden and raisins puff up.
- Gently fold in the partially cooked rice, followed by sugar. Mix carefully with a spatula to avoid breaking the rice grains.
- Cook on low flame, stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves and the rice absorbs the flavors, and the mixture becomes slightly dry.
- Turn off the heat, garnish with chopped pistachios, and let the rice rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Chef’s Tips
- Use aged basmati rice for a more aromatic and fluffy texture.
- For a richer taste, replace half the sugar with jaggery powder.
- Add a few strands of saffron soaked in warm milk for color and aroma.
- For a vegan option, substitute ghee with coconut oil or vegan butter.
- You can toast the nuts separately for extra crunch.