Spiced Saffron Rice Recipes

SAFFRON RICE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the saffron and boiling water and steep for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, rinse the rice under cold water. Place the rice, 1 3/4 cups water, and saffron in a pot and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, covered, for 20 minutes, until all the liquid is absorbed.
• Remove from the heat and let sit, covered, for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork, season with salt and pepper, and either spoon into the bouillabaisse or serve on the side.

SAFFRON RICE

Steps:

• Heat the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the onion; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low, and continue cooking and stirring until the onion is very tender and dark brown, 15 to 20 minutes more.
• Pour in rice and stir to coat. Stir in water, parsley flakes, saffron, and 3 drops of yellow food coloring (optional). Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until water is absorbed, about 30 minutes.

EASY SAFFRON RICE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Pour the stock into a medium-sized pot with a tight-fitting lid. Place the pot on the stove over high heat.
• While the stock is coming to a boil, add the turmeric, saffron, chile (if using), and a squeeze of lemon or lime juice. Stir well.
• Add the rice plus 1 1/2 tablespoons fish sauce (or 1/4 teaspoon salt) and stir. Bring to a boil.
• Reduce the heat to low and cover tightly with a lid. Cook 12 to 15 minutes, or until liquid has been absorbed by the rice. (Insert a fork or knife straight down into the pot and push the rice aside. If you see liquid, it still needs more time to cook.)
• When most of the liquid is gone, turn off the heat and place the lid on tightly. Allow the pot to remain on the burner for another 5 to 10 minutes, or until you're ready to eat. The residual heat inside the pot will finish steaming the rice. The rice will stay warm in this way for 1 hour or more.
• Before serving, remove the lid and fluff rice with chopsticks or a fork. Taste test for salt, adding 1/2 tablespoon more fish sauce or a little more salt if needed (the amount will depend on the saltiness of your stock). If the rice tastes too salty, add another squeeze of lemon juice.

SPICED SAFFRON JASMINE RICE

Steps:

• Rinse rice with cold water in large bowl, changing water several times until it runs clear. Drain well through a fine sieve.
• Place cardamom seed, cloves, cinnamon sticks and fennel seeds in the center of a piece of cheesecloth or a coffee filter. Tie tightly with a long piece of string. Bring broth, spice bundle, saffron and salt to boil in medium saucepan. Set aside.
• Heat oil in large saucepan on medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Add rice; cook and stir 1 minute or until rice is opaque. Stir in broth mixture. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 15 to 20 minutes or until tender. Remove from heat. Let stand 5 minutes. Remove spice bundle before serving.

SAFFRON RICE WITH TAHDIG

Steps:

• Place the rice in a large bowl and cover with cold water. Swish the water a couple times with your hands, then rinse the rice in a large mesh sieve or colander with small drainage holes. Repeat the process until the water runs clear. Put the rice back in the bowl and cover with 3 cups cold water along with 1 tablespoon salt; give it a couple of stirs. Let soak 1 hour.
• Add 8 cups water and the remaining 3 tablespoons salt to a large saucepot and bring to a boil. Drain the rice and add it to the boiling water, giving a stir. Let cook until the water begins to bubble again, about 3 minutes. Check the rice: It should be al dente (soft on the outside with a slight bite in the center). If still not al dente, cook 1 to 2 minutes more. Drain the rice and rinse briefly with warm water. Taste the rice: If it seems too salty, rinse it again. Set the rice aside in the sieve.
• Stir the saffron and 3 tablespoons hot water together in a small cup.
• Place a 6-quart nonstick pot over medium-high heat. Add the ghee and half of the saffron water. Swirl to melt and completely coat the bottom and slightly up the sides of the pot. When the ghee begins to sizzle, add enough rice to coat the bottom of the pot evenly, about 1 1/2 inches high. Press down gently but firmly with a spatula or a measuring cup to compact the rice and press about 2 inches up the sides to form a crust. Gently spoon the remaining rice over the top, forming a small mound in the center. Using the handle of a wooden spoon, make 6 deep holes to vent steam down into the rice, stopping before hitting the bottom of the pot. Cover the pot with the lid and cook for about 10 minutes (you will see steam coming from underneath the lid).
• Whisk the melted butter together with the remaining saffron water. Remove the lid from the pot, being careful not to drip condensation back into the pot. Turn the heat to low. Wrap the lid with a clean kitchen towel, securing at the top to keep loose ends away from the fire. Drizzle the saffron butter into the rice. Cover with the lid and continue to cook, rotating the pot every so often for even browning, until the crust is deeply golden brown, about 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and remove the lid. Let stand 5 minutes, then check that the bottom is detached from the pot with an offset spatula, loosening it gently if necessary. Place a platter over the top of the pot, using kitchen towels to hold the sides, and in one quick motion, invert the pot and the rice onto the platter. Serve immediately.

SPICED SAFFRON RICE

Steps:

• In a large bowl wash rice in several changes of cold water until the water runs clear and drain it in a fine sieve. In a large heavy saucepan heat the oil over moderately high heat until it is hot but not smoking, add the cinnamon stick, the cloves, and the cardamom pods, if using, and fry the spices, stirring, for 30 seconds, or until the cloves are puffed slightly. Add rice and cook the mixture, stirring, for 1 minute, or until the rice is opaque. Add 2 1/4 cups water and the salt, bring the mixture to a boil, and cook the rice, covered, over low heat for 15 minutes.
• While the rice is cooking, in a heatproof bowl set over a small pan of simmering water heat the saffron for 3-4 minutes, or until it is brittle. Add milk, heat the mixture, stirring occasionally, until it is hot, and remove the pan from the heat. Drizzle the saffron mixture over the rice and continue to cook the rice, covered, for 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let the rice stand, covered, for 5 minutes.

SPICY SPANISH SAFFRON RICE

Steps:

• In a large skillet or saucepan with a lid sauté onion and jalapeños in olive oil until softened.
• Stir in garlic, herbs, zucchini, red pepper, green pepper and tomatoes and cook with lid on for 10 minutes.
• Add rice, broth and saffron milk and stir to combine, cook till the rice is just tender and the liquid nearly absorbed 15-20mins.
• Stir in peas, salt and pepper and let cook a further 10mins or until peas are cooked through and tender.

STOVETOP SAFFRON RICE

Steps:

• Cover rice with cold water and set aside to soak for 30 minutes.
• Soak saffron threads in 2 tablespoons boiling water.
• Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat; add cardamom, cloves and cinnamon and fry 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in onion and saute, stirring occasionally, until golden brown. Stir in the rice, reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Pour in the boiling broth and stir in the salt and saffron.
• Cover and cook until rice is cooked and all liquid is absorbed, about 40 minutes.

SPICED BASMATI RICE

Steps:

• Bring the rice to the boil in 2 litres of water and allow to cook for 7 mins. Rinse the rice in a colander with cold water. Leave to drain for 5 mins.
• Meanwhile, put half the butter and the oil into a saucepan. Bring to a medium heat and add the rest of the ingredients, except the rice and the saffron. Slowly fry until fragrant, then stir in the drained rice. Using the end of a wooden spoon to make holes in the rice to allow the steam to rise. Dot the remaining butter on top of the rice and scatter over the saffron. Put the lid back on the pan, and cover with a tea towel to seal the steaming process. Turn off the heat and leave to steam for 30 mins - this makes the rice fluffy and separated without drying it out.

BAKED SAFFRON RICE

Steps:

• Rinse rice well; drain in colander. Place in a deep nonstick pot or rice cooker with water and salt. Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce to a simmer. Cook until all liquid is absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Drizzle oil over top of rice; stir gently with a wooden spoon. Gently press rice into an even layer. Reduce heat to medium-low. Place a clean dish towel over top of pot; cover firmly, wrapping sides of towel around top of lid to prevent steam from escaping. Cook over medium-low heat for 50 to 60 minutes. Gently pull rice away from side of pan with a spatulaâ??there should be a nice golden crust.
• Remove from heat, remove lid, and drizzle saffron water over the rice. Cover immediately, and allow to cool 5 minutes.
• Remove lid; invert carefully onto a serving plate. Serve warm, cut in wedges.