Zarda Urdu: زردہ‎) is a traditional South Asian sweet dish, made by boiling rice with (orange) food coloring, milk and sugar, and flavoured with cardamoms, raisins, saffron, pistachios or almonds. The name Zarda comes from Persian and Urdu word 'zard' زرد meaning 'yellow', hence named since the food coloring added to the rice gives it a yellow color. Zarda is typically served after a meal. In South Asia, zarda was and still remains a popular dessert on weddings.