What is Zerde?

Zerde is a Turkish sweet pudding made of rice, saffron and pink water. It is a popular food that is often served during festivals. The name itself is Persian for "yellow" because food gets its color from saffron. Also known as a wedding pudding, it is served as a dessert that has a distinctive floral taste and smell of roses. It is known that this pudding existed in Turkey and its surroundings for at least 600 years. Traditionally, it is consumed during the first 10 days Muharram , the first month of the Islamic calendar year. kheer is very similar to a sweet rice bowl, which is also served at weddings. Rosewater is a liquid that remains after extracting oils from pink petals. It has a very strong odor similar to perfume and sharp, clearly flower taste.

Saffron is another important component in the bowl. It is an expensive spice made of Crocus flowers. Adding saffron to food gives a distinctive color and taste and is responsible for the name of the bowl that refers to nand the color of the pudding.

Creating Zerde begins with cooking rice in the water and then by adding sugar and lowering the liquid to produce light syrup. The rice is then added to the Arrowroot rice, which is a thickening powder made of the roots of the same name. Saffron and Rosewater are incorporated. Finally, spices such as cinnamon are added and the whole mixture is chilled to completely set.

The finished pudding is served with raisins, pomegranate seeds and nuts sprinkled at the top. Zerde will feel like a rose and will have a very deep, rich yellow color of saffron. A bowl of honey can be served by side.

One variation on Zerde is another type of pudding called zerdeli sutlac . This food uses almost all the same ingredients, but is ready differently. Instead of cooking everything in only one pot, two separate puddings are produced. One of them is saffron pudding and the other is rice pudding. After completion andServing is poured together into one bowl.