Dessert · Turkish · Middle Eastern ·

Turkish Zerde Dessert with Saffron and Pine Nuts

Name: Turkish Zerde Dessert with Saffron and Pine Nuts
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 120 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Dessert
Ingredients: 1 cup white rice, rinsed; 6 cups water; 1 cup sugar; 1/4 teaspoon saffron threads, soaked in 1/4 cup warm water; 1 tablespoon orange blossom water; 1/4 cup pine nuts, lightly toasted; 1/4 cup golden raisins, soaked in warm water; 2 tablespoons dried apricots, diced

Zerde is a traditional Turkish dessert made from rice, flavored with saffron and sweetened with sugar, often adorned with pine nuts and dried fruits.

4.3(541 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·October 22, 2025

Turkish Zerde Dessert with Saffron and Pine Nuts — Dessert served and photographed from above

Prep

30 min

Cook

1 h 30 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Base

For the Flavor

For the Garnish

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 226 kcal
Protein: 1.8 g
Carbs: 47.9 g
Fat: 3.9 g
Fiber: 0.7 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 1353 kcal
Protein: 10.8 g
Carbs: 287.4 g
Fat: 23.6 g
Fiber: 3.9 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
1 cup white rice rinsed	205	4.3	45	0.4	0.6
6 cups water	0	0	0	0	0
1 cup sugar	774	0	200	0	0
1/4 teaspoon saffron threads soaked in 1/4 cup warm water	2	0.1	0.4	0	0.1
1 tablespoon orange blossom water	0	0	0	0	0
1/4 cup pine nuts lightly toasted	229	4.8	4.5	23	1.1
1/4 cup golden raisins soaked in warm water	109	1.1	29	0.1	1.2
2 tablespoons dried apricots diced	34	0.5	8.5	0.1	0.9

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Preparing the Rice Base

1
Rinse Rice
Rinse the rice thoroughly until water runs clear.
2
Boil Rice
In a large pot, combine the rice with 6 cups of water and bring to a boil.
3
Simmer Rice
Reduce heat and simmer until the rice is fully cooked, about 20-25 min.

Infusing the Flavor

1
Add Sugar
Add the sugar to the cooked rice and stir until dissolved.
2
Stir in Flavors
Stir in the soaked saffron and orange blossom water. Continue to simmer for about 5-7 min.
3
Thicken Mixture
Allow the flavors to meld as the liquid slightly thickens.