Saffron Rice
October 03, 2019
**Updated Post**.
Perfect and elegant side dish to compliment your Middle-eastern, North African or Indian cuisines.
This is another updated post of my 2010.
I have cooked this saffron rice umpteenth time.
I love to pair saffron rice with braised lamb shanks.
Elegant yellow saffron rice goes perfectly well with any Middle-eastern, North Africa and Indian cuisine.
Its red threadlike stigma (as per photo below).
But once soaked in hot water, saffron will impart a gorgeous yellow hue.
Saffron is obtained from crocus sativus plant.
Cultivating and collecting saffron is a labour intensive process.
Croci grow very close to the ground, in order to cultivate crocus, one has to be closed to the ground too, ie squatting down for hours!
I, for sure will not be able to do so.
The crimson red stigmas are so delicate that no machine will be able to do a good job as human hands!!!
Hence I appreciate every strand and every stigma of saffron that I was about to cook with.
Try middle-eastern grocer near you.
I will definitely not buy from my local grocer, its just too expensive.
And I will AVOID buying any synthetic saffron... the grounded yellow powder, labelled as saffron!
It could be turmeric with saffron essence for all you know (Disclaimer: I am not saying that it is!!)
Some say it has some kind of floral aroma to it.
For me, dried saffron has no smell, possibly too faint an aroma for my nose to notice!
But once you infused saffron in hot water, I could smell the saffron quite strongly.
However, its not floral to me, its hard to describe :( though.
Do not be too generous in using saffron.
A pinch of saffron goes a long way.
The whole house will be filled with saffron-like aroma for the entire day.
Best use Basmati rice.
Saffron is a must in paella and bouillabaisse.
Another favourite is to make Ottolenghi's saffron and yoghurt dressings.
It is so good :D.
Creme Brulee With Cardamom and Saffron
This is another updated post of my 2010.
I have cooked this saffron rice umpteenth time.
I love to pair saffron rice with braised lamb shanks.
Elegant yellow saffron rice goes perfectly well with any Middle-eastern, North Africa and Indian cuisine.
What is saffron?
Saffron is considered the most expensive spice ever!Its red threadlike stigma (as per photo below).
But once soaked in hot water, saffron will impart a gorgeous yellow hue.
Saffron is obtained from crocus sativus plant.
Why is saffron expensive?
Cultivating and collecting saffron is a labour intensive process.
Croci grow very close to the ground, in order to cultivate crocus, one has to be closed to the ground too, ie squatting down for hours!
I, for sure will not be able to do so.
The crimson red stigmas are so delicate that no machine will be able to do a good job as human hands!!!
Hence I appreciate every strand and every stigma of saffron that I was about to cook with.
Where to Buy Saffron?
Try middle-eastern grocer near you.
I will definitely not buy from my local grocer, its just too expensive.
And I will AVOID buying any synthetic saffron... the grounded yellow powder, labelled as saffron!
It could be turmeric with saffron essence for all you know (Disclaimer: I am not saying that it is!!)
What does saffron rice taste like?
Saffron has a subtle taste and aroma.Some say it has some kind of floral aroma to it.
For me, dried saffron has no smell, possibly too faint an aroma for my nose to notice!
But once you infused saffron in hot water, I could smell the saffron quite strongly.
However, its not floral to me, its hard to describe :( though.
Do not be too generous in using saffron.
A pinch of saffron goes a long way.
The whole house will be filled with saffron-like aroma for the entire day.
Best use Basmati rice.
What dish goes well with saffron?
My go to dish to pair with saffron rice is definitely slow cooked lamb shanks.Saffron is a must in paella and bouillabaisse.
Another favourite is to make Ottolenghi's saffron and yoghurt dressings.
It is so good :D.
Other recipes with Saffron
Saffron and Rosewater Ice-creamCreme Brulee With Cardamom and Saffron
Saffron Rice
Yield:
4
Prep time: 5 MinCook time: 20 MinTotal time: 25 Min
Learn to make this simple aromatic saffron infused rice. Perfect and elegant side dish to compliment your Middle-eastern or Indian food
Ingredients
Ingredients for Saffron Rice
- A pinch of saffron
- 1 tablespoon hot boiling water
- 2 cups basmati rice
- 3 cloves of garlic - crushed and chopped
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 1/2 cups of water
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
How to cook Saffron rice
- Wash, rinse basmati rice twice.
- Soak basmati rice with 1 teaspoon of salt for at least 20 minutes
- Drain off water using colander
- In a small bowl, add saffron and hot water
- Leave to infused for at least 5 minutes.
- Add Basmati into the rice cooker bowl
- Add water
- In a small frying pan, on medium heat, add olive oil and garlic.
- Saute garlic for 2 minutes or until fragrant
- Transfer the sauteed garlic into the rice cooker pot.
- Add saffron and its infused water into rice cooker pot
- Add salt and give it a quick stir
- Start the rice cooker as per manufacturer's instruction.
Notes
1. Basmati is best to use to cook saffron rice
2. Saffron rice can be cooked over the stove (if you are familiar with cooking rice over the stove using the absorption method)
Nutrition Facts
Calories
371.96Fat (grams)
4.12 gSat. Fat (grams)
0.65 gCarbs (grams)
74.72 gFiber (grams)
1.25 gNet carbs
73.46 gSugar (grams)
0.13 gProtein (grams)
6.73 gSodium (milligrams)
594.04 mgCholesterol (grams)
0 mg
The rice must have tasted wonderful with both garlic and saffron. Excellent click too!
ReplyDeleteAngie,
ReplyDeleteThank you..