Zarda is a traditional boiled sweet rice dish, made with saffron, milk and sugar, flavoured with cardamom, raisins, almonds.. The name Zarda comes from Persian word 'zard' زرد meaning 'yellow', as traditionally yellow food colour is added to it. Bringing the prefect yellow colour is the game. It is occasionally served after the main course.
The other addition to this dish is a variety of colours and dry fruits and "murraba". It is sometimes decorated with boiled eggs too.
I prefer the traditional yellow colour zarda with as much less material as possible. I usually add coconut slices, almonds and raisins only. They give a beautiful addition to the yellow rice!
About the sugar: I really like a normal quantity of sugar in this rice, so the measurement is standard one, if you like more or less sugar just adjust it accordingly.