Moroccan Saffron Rice Recipes

NOURISHING ONE POT SIMPLE MOROCCAN SAFFRON RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Bloom the saffron strands in 1/4 cup of boiling water. Set aside for about 10 minutes.
• Heat the Tablespoon of oil in a medium saucepan over a medium heat. Add the garlic and onion and sweat until they're soft and translucent.
• Add the brown rice, the saffron water and the remaining 1 1/4 cup water. Bring to the boil and cover with a lid. Turn the heat down to simmer and leave covered and simmering for 20 minutes.
• While the rice is cooking, use a dry non stick frying pan to toast the spice mix. Heat the pan over a medium heat and add the spices. Toast for about 4 minutes, until all the spices are starting to colour and are very fragrant. Blend the spices to a powder either in a spice grinder or with a mortar and pestle.
• Once the rice is cooked, mix through the spices and the dried fruit.
• Serve with pomegranate arils and micro greens.

MOROCCAN RICE (PILAF)

Steps:

• Saute: Place the onion and the olive oil in a large pot and sauté under medium heat for 2-3 minutes. Add cumin, allspice, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon stick, bay leaves, pepper and rice and stir until rice gets a white color, about 2-3 minutes.
• Simmer: Add the stock (or water), salt and saffron, cover the pot and wait until it starts to boil. Reduce heat to a gentle simmer and cook covered until almost all of the water is absorbed, about 5 - 10 minutes.
• Rest: Turn off the heat, add the dried fruits and almonds and stir/fluff up gently with a fork. Cover the pot and let the pilaf rest for 15-20 minutes.

MOROCCAN SAFFRON RICE PILAF RECIPE WITH VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a sauce pan, heat the stock almost to boiling and hold warm.
• Heat the saffron threads carefully for a minute in a small skillet, just until dry enough to crumble. Crush them and add to the stock.
• While the stock is heating, combine the remaining ingredients in a deep skillet or 4-quart pot.
• Cook the rice and vegetables over medium heat, stirring frequently, for about 10 minutes, or until the onions are translucent and the rice begins to color.
• Add the stock and saffron to the rice, stirring only once. Bring the stock to a simmer and taste for salt. Adjust the seasoning as desired.
• Cover the rice, reduce the heat to low, and simmer gently and undisturbed, for about 25 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender.
• Fluff the rice with a fork, and serve.
• Enjoy.

MOROCCAN RICE PILAF WITH SAFFRON

Steps:

• In a sauce pan, heat the stock almost to boiling.
• Meanwhile, mix the remaining ingredients (except the saffron) in a very large skillet or shallow stock pot.
• Cook the rice and vegetables over medium heat, stirring frequently, for about 10 minutes, or until the onions are translucent and the rice begins to color.
• Add the stock and saffron to the rice, stirring only once. Bring the stock to a simmer, and taste for salt.
• Adjust the seasoning if desired.
• Cover the rice, reduce the heat to low, and simmer gently and undisturbed, for about 25 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender.
• Fluff the rice with a fork, and serve.

MOROCCAN SAFFRON RICE

Steps:

• Wash the rice in a sieve until the water runs clear, then drain well and set aside.
• Bring the water to a boil, remove from heat and add the saffron. Allow to infuse for 20 minutes.
• Heat the oil in a heavy saucepan and add the rice, stirring well so that all the rice is coated evenly in the oil. Add the saffron water and salt and stir well.
• Bring to a boil and boil for 1 minute. Cover with a tight fitting lid, then simmer for 10-12 minutes until the water is absorbed. Turn off the heat and let stand, covered, for at least 10 minutes.
• Add the butter and fluff lightly with a fork. Serve and garnish with pistachios.

SAFFRON-CARDAMOM RICE

Steps:

• Melt 1 teaspoon butter in small skillet over medium heat. Add pine nuts; sauté until golden, about 5 minutes. Cool.
• Melt remaining 2 teaspoons butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Add rice and stir 2 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups water, raisins, sugar, salt, saffron and cardamom. Bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until rice is tender, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat; let stand covered 10 minutes. Stir in pine nuts.

MOROCCAN CHICKEN WITH SAFFRON AND PRESERVED LEMON

Steps:

• Whisk 1/4 cup olive oil, garlic, turmeric, cumin seeds, salt, and pepper together in a bowl and pour into a resealable plastic bag or container. Add chicken, coat with the paste and seal bag or container. Marinate in the refrigerator, 4 hours to overnight.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Add onion; cook and stir until soft and translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove chicken from marinade, discarding marinade. Add chicken thighs skin-side down to stockpot and cook until browned, about 4 minutes. Flip chicken thighs and cook until browned on second side, about 3 minutes more.
• Lower heat to medium and add water to cover chicken halfway, cover stockpot, and cook for 20 minutes. Uncover stockpot, sprinkle saffron threads onto chicken, and top with preserved lemon slices. Replace cover and cook until chicken is no longer pink at the bone and juices run clear, about 5 minutes more. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Uncover stockpot and transfer chicken to a serving platter.
• Continue simmering liquid in stockpot until thickened to sauce consistency, 5 to 7 minutes. Spoon sauce over chicken; top with olives, artichokes, and parsley.

SAFFRON RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Soften saffron in hot water (2 tablespoons) in a small bowl.
• Heat oil in a 5-quart heavy pot over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Fry almonds, stirring frequently, until golden, about 3 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain.
• Fry onion in oil remaining in pot, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer half of onion to a bowl.
• Add rice to onion in pot and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add water (4 1/2 cups), saffron mixture, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and cook, covered, until water is absorbed and rice is tender, 18 to 20 minutes. Let rice stand, covered, off heat 5 minutes.
• While rice stands, stir almonds and currants into bowl with onion.
• Fluff rice with a fork and serve with almond mixture spooned on top.