On the occasion of Eid, a lot of sweet dishes are made to share with family, friends, neighbors and the less fortunate. Saffron zarda shemai is such a dish that is wanted by almost everyone in the family.

Ingredients

• 2 eggs
• 2 cups milk
• A few strands of saffron
• ½ cup ghee
• 1 pack shemai (vermicelli), 150 gram, about 5.3 oz or about 2 cups crush
• 2-3 green cardamom
• 2-3 cinnamon, each about 1” long
• 6 tablespoons sugar (adjust per taste)
• Almonds, for garnish

Directions

• Beat eggs and milk together. Add saffron strands and keep it that way.
• Crush the vermicelli by hand a little and fry in ghee with cardamom and cinnamon until vermicelli is light golden in colour.
• Pour in the milk and egg mix and stir slowly in low-medium heat.
• Once vermicelli is soft, add sugar and mix slowly.
• Once sugar is melted and shemai is fluffy, turn off the stove.
• Garnish with almonds and serve.

(The writer is a professional chef.)