Saffron Rice

Today is "Basant Panchami "'.  This  is a Hindu festival celebrating Saraswati, the goddess of Knowledge, music and art. The day of Basant Panchami is considered as the beginning of life. It is also the beginning of Spring Season.  In this season, fields of yellow mustard, charm everyone’s heart. Colorful flowers start blossoming. The day of Basant Panchami is celebrated as the welcoming of colors and happiness. The yellow color has great significance, People wear yellow clothes, offer yellow flowers in worship. At home, 'Kesar Halwa' or 'Kesar Chawal', which is  also yellow in color, is prepared. 

                                        

      

                         Goddess Saraswati

                        

Saffron Rice

Ingredients

1 cup basmati rice

2 cups water 

1 1/2 cup sugar

few threads of saffron soaked in a tsp milk 
a few drops of yellow food color  

5-6 small cardamom

2 star anise

1 javitri (mace)

a few raisins

a few fried cashew nuts

2 tbsp ghee (clarified butter)

Method

1. Wash and soak basmati rice for  half an hour.

2. Take a large heavy bottom pan and put it on the flame.

3. Put ghee in the pan.

4. Add cardomom, javitri and star anise in the ghee.

5. After a minute put rice and shallow fry rice for a few minutes.

6. Put water and cover the pan with the lid and let the rice cook till three-fourth done.

7. Add sugar when there is a little water left.

8. Also add saffron and a few drops of yellow color.

9. Cook the rice till all the water is soaked and the grain of rice is seperate.

10. Garnish it with fried cashews and raisins.