Wash and soak the basmati rice in enough water for 20-30 minutes.
In meanwhile soak saffron strings in warm milk.
Heat a non-stick pan, add ghee and fry all the nuts and keep aside.
Drain the water from the rice and add to the same pan and mix gently without
breaking the rice and fry for a minute.
Add food colour along with 11/2 cup of hot water and close the lid and cook until rice is done.
Now to the cooked rice, add fried nuts along with sugar, saffron milk and mix well.
Cover and cook till all the moisture is evaporated.
Finally add cardamom powder, the remaining ghee and mix well.
Transfer into a serving bowl and enjoy rich and delicious Zarda rice or sweet rice with your loved ones.