Crispy Saffron Rice Food

SAFFRON RICE

Steps:

• Heat 3 tablespoons butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add 1 finely chopped onion and cook, stirring, until softened, 4 minutes. Stir in 2 cups basmati rice, 2 teaspoons kosher salt and 1/2 teaspoon saffron threads. Add 1 1/2 cups each water and low-sodium chicken broth. Bring to a simmer, reduce the heat to low, cover and cook until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed, 15 minutes. Let sit, covered, 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork. Stir in 1/4 cup chopped cilantro and 2 sliced scallions.

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.

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.

HERB RICE WITH GREEN GARLIC, SAFFRON, AND CRISPY SHALLOTS

Steps:

• Place rice in a large bowl and pour in lukewarm water to cover. Using your hands, agitate rice until water becomes cloudy; drain. Repeat process until water stays clear (4-5 times). Cover rice with 6 cups cold water and add a generous handful of salt (water should taste salty). Let soak uncovered at room temperature at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours.
• Meanwhile, pour oil into a medium saucepan to come about 2" up sides. Add shallots and set over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until shallots are golden and crisp, 10-12 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer shallots to paper towels and season with salt. Strain oil into a small bowl; let cool.
• Toss cilantro, dill, parsley, mint, and tarragon in a medium bowl; set aside 1 cup for serving. Dissolve saffron in 2 Tbsp. hot water in a small bowl.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil (use a nonstick pot if you have one; it will help the rice release at the end). Drain rice and add to pot, stirring gently to prevent any grains from sticking to the bottom. Bring to a boil and cook until grains begin to float on the surface and dance (rice should be almost tender but with a firm, opaque center), about 4 minutes. Drain rice and rinse under cold water. Spread out on a rimmed baking sheet. Wash out pot.
• Pour 3 Tbsp. shallot oil into clean pot. Swirl in 2 tsp. saffron water; reserve remaining saffron water for serving. Oil mixture should barely coat bottom of pot; add more oil if needed. Season lightly with salt. Lay lavash across pot (it can go up the sides a little, but don't overlap). Spoon a third of rice over lavash; top with a third of herbs and a third of green garlic. Repeat, alternating layers of rice, herbs, and green garlic to form a mound. Use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke several holes in rice (without hitting bottom of pot) to let steam escape. Wrap lid with a kitchen towel and cover pot. Cook over medium heat until herbs are slightly darkened, 10-15 minutes.
• Reduce heat to medium-low, uncover and pour melted butter evenly over rice. Cover and cook until rice is fragrant and fluffy, 20-30 minutes. Remove from heat; let sit 10 minutes. Taste rice and season with more salt if needed.
• Scoop 1 1/2 cups rice into reserved saffron water and toss to color rice. Layer saffron rice with rice in pot, reserved herbs, and crispy shallots. Top with rose petals if using. Break up lavash crust into pieces and serve alongside rice.

CRUNCHY BAKED SAFFRON RICE WITH BARBERRIES (TACHIN)

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add 2 large palmfuls of salt (about 1/2 cup). While you're waiting for the water to boil, place rice in a strainer or sieve and rinse with lukewarm water, swishing rice around with your hands to get rid of excess starch. Continue to rinse until water from rice runs clear.
• Add rice to pot and give it a few stirs to prevent rice from sticking to the bottom. Cook, stirring occasionally, until rice begins to rise to the top and is tender but still has a slight bite to it, 6-8 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water.
• Meanwhile, melt butter in a medium skillet over medium-low heat. Cook barberries, stirring often, until plumped slightly and warmed through, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in rose water, if using.
• Place rack in lower third of oven; preheat to 400°F. Combine saffron and 2 Tbsp. hot water in a large bowl. Let sit 10 minutes to allow saffron to steep and draw out as much color as possible. Mix in egg yolks, yogurt, 1/2 cup oil, and 2 tsp. salt. Scatter rice over yogurt mixture and gently toss to ensure every grain is coated.
• Coat a 10"-diameter glass pie dish with oil (glass lets you check on the color from underneath). Add half of rice mixture and use the palms of your hands or a measuring cup to gently pack and compact rice into dish. Scatter half of barberries over and top with remaining rice. Press down again, this time more firmly (this helps with unmolding).
• Cover dish tightly with foil and bake until rice on the bottom and around edges is a deep golden brown, 65-80 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes; discard foil. Loosen the rice around the edges using the point of a knife. Place a large plate on top and invert rice onto plate like a cake. Scatter remaining barberries over top.

QUICK AND EASY SAFFRON RICE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a heavy saucepan (that has a lid).
• Add the onion and garlic and cook until just soft.
• Add in the rice and cook for 3 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Add the broth, saffron, and parsley.
• Cover and reduce the heat to low.
• Cook for 15-18 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed.
• Fluff with a fork before serving.

IRANIAN RICE WITH POTATO CRUST AND SAFFRON

Steps:

• Clean, wash, and soak rice for 30 minutes.
• Cook in a pan with 4 cups water.
• Boil on high heat for 5 minutes.
• Reduce heat, stir rice, and leave on low heat again for 5 minutes, then drain in a sieve.
• Mix saffron and warm water; set aside.
• Peel potatoes and cut into thick round slices.
• Pour saffron in a pan.
• Add 2 tbsps. melted butter and potatoes, and mix very well.
• Spread sliced potatoes in the bottom of the pan and spoon all rice over.
• Sprinkle with remaining butter.
• Cover pan with aluminum foil and leave on very low fire until done.
• Transfer rice to a platter so that sliced potatoes are on top of rice.