# Zerde

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zerde
> Source revision: 1332460795
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{{Short description|Saffron rice pudding}}
{{Infobox food
| name               = Zerde زرده
| image              = Zerde.jpg
| caption            = 
| alternate_name     = 
| country            = [Ancient Mesopotamia](/source/Ancient_Mesopotamia)
| creator            = 
| course             = [Dessert](/source/Dessert)
| type               = [Pudding](/source/Pudding)
| served             = Cold
| main_ingredient    = [Rice](/source/Rice), [rose water](/source/rose_water), [saffron](/source/saffron), [sugar](/source/sugar), [raisin](/source/raisin)s, [pistachio](/source/pistachio)s
| variations         = 
| calories           = 215
| other              = 
}}
'''Zerde''' is a traditional Turkish, Iraqi, and general [Mesopotamian](/source/Mesopotamia) [dessert](/source/dessert). The original [rice](/source/rice) [pudding](/source/pudding), infused with a generous amount of [saffron](/source/saffron) giving it a vibrant yellow hue and a delicate floral flavour. This is a festive dish popular at weddings, births, and during holy festivities such as the first Sunday of the month of Sha'aban celebrating the birth of the prophet [Zechariah](/source/Zechariah_in_Islam), and the first ten days of the sacred month of [Muharram](/source/Muharram).

Zer, which means gold and or yellow,  comes from Persian zard (زرد) which means yellow. In some regions of Turkey, Zerdeçal [Turmeric](/source/Turmeric) also added for a more intense colour. 
 
Zerde is very popular and has made its way to western Turkey with people immigrating to west at [Eastern Thrace](/source/Eastern_Thrace), which provides almost the half of country's rice production,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ttae.gov.tr/yenisite/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=186%3Aceltik-tarmnn-sorunlar-ve-coezuem-oenerileri&catid=56%3Amceltik&Itemid=73 |publisher=Trakya Tarimsal Araştirma Enstitüsü |title=Çeltik Tarımının Sorunları ve Çözüm Önerileri |author=Dr. Necmi, Beşer |language=tr |access-date=2011-11-26 |archive-date=2012-04-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426002311/http://www.ttae.gov.tr/yenisite/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=186:celtik-tarmnn-sorunlar-ve-coezuem-oenerileri&catid=56:mceltik&Itemid=73 |url-status=dead }}</ref> zerde is a favored dessert.<ref name="tg">{{cite web |url=http://www.trakyagezi.com/trakya-mutfagi/sutlu-ve-serbetli-tatlilar/234-zerde.html |publisher=Trakya Gezi |title=Zerde |language=tr |access-date=2011-11-26 |archive-date=2012-01-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117165734/http://www.trakyagezi.com/trakya-mutfagi/sutlu-ve-serbetli-tatlilar/234-zerde.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Flavoring ingredients of zerde vary slightly from region to region in Turkey depending on the local fruits.<ref name="ha">{{cite web |url=http://www.hamaratabla.com/makale/613,zerde.htm |publisher=Hamarat Abla |title=Zerde |language=tr |access-date=2011-11-26 |archive-date=2011-11-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125182749/http://www.hamaratabla.com/makale/613,zerde.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Zerde differs from [rice pudding](/source/rice_pudding) insofar as it is prepared with water instead of milk.<ref name="tg"/>

One serving of zerde has approximately 215 calories.<ref name="ha"/>

==History==

[James Redhouse](/source/James_Redhouse) described ''zerde'' ({{langx|ota|زرده}}) in his 1890 [Ottoman Turkish](/source/Ottoman_Turkish) to English dictionary as "Boiled rice colored with saffron and sweetened."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Redhouse |first1=James W. |title=A turkish and english Lexicon shewing in english the significations of the turkish terms: Printed for the American Mission by A. H. Boyajian |date=1890 |publisher=Boyajian |page=1007 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/A_turkish_and_english_Lexicon_shewing_in/4DrigFChhu8C?gbpv=1&pg=PA1007&printsec=frontcover |access-date=24 December 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
*[Zarda (food)](/source/Zarda_(food))
*[Sholezard](/source/Sholezard)

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Rice pudding}}
{{Cuisine of Turkey|dessert}}

Category:Rice pudding
Category:Turkish puddings

Category:Iraqi cuisine

{{Turkey-dessert-stub}}

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Zerde](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zerde) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zerde?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.