Indian Saffron Rice Food

SAFFRON RICE

Steps:

• Place the saffron in a small bowl and cover with 3 tablespoons of boiling water.
• Soak for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the butter over moderate heat in a large 3 or 4 quart stockpot.
• Add the cinnamon and cloves and stir well.
• Add the onions, garlic and saute for about 2 minutes.
• Add the rice and stir for about 5 minutes.
• Pour in the 4 cups of boiling water or broth, salt, and the cardamom.
• Bring to a boil over high heat.
• Add the saffron and its soaking water.
• Stir gently.
• Cover, reduce heat, and cook for 25 minutes.
• Fluff, remove cloves and cinnamon sticks and serve hot.

SAFFRON RICE | YELLOW RICE

Steps:

• Rinse the rice for 3 to 4 times in water or till the water runs clear of starch.
• Soak the rice for 20 to 30 mins in water. Drain the water and keep the rice aside.
• Gather all the ingredients, measure and set them aside.
• Crush the saffron strands with your fingers or in a mortar-pestle. Set aside.
• Heat oil or ghee in a deep pan or pot. Lower the heat. Add all the whole spices - caraway seeds, green cardamoms, cinnamon, cloves, tej patta and mace strand.
• Fry for some seconds until the spices crackle taking care they do not burn.
• Then add the soaked rice. Mix and stir gently for 1 to 2 minutes so that the fat coats the rice grains.
• Add the crushed saffron strands to the rice.
• Add turmeric powder now if you plan to add it. Mix gently.
• Pour water and season with salt according to taste. Taste the water and it should be slightly salty.
• Cover the pan tightly and let the rice cook till the grains become separately cooked and absorb all the water.
• Do check the rice for a couple of times when it is cooking. If it looks like the water is simmering off too quickly, and more water 1 tablespoon at a time. Once done, fluff gently with a fork.
• Serve the saffron rice garnished with coriander or mint leaves with any lentil or vegetable curry of your choice.

SAFFRON RICE

Steps:

• Soak saffron in 1/2 cup boiling water for 20-30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, saute onions in the ghee until tender; set aside.
• Rinse the basmati under cold water in a sieve, until water runs clear, allow to drain.
• Place the rice and the onions in a saucepan and add the 1/2 cup saffron water as well as 2 1/2 cups hot water, the cardamon pods, the cloves, and the salt and pepper; stir to mix.
• Bring to a boil over medium heat then reduce heat, cover, and cook over low heat until the rice is tender, about 15-20 minutes.
• If any liquid remains, drain it.
• Stir peas into mixture, if desired, as a garnish; serve.

IRANIAN YELLOW RICE WITH SAFFRON

Steps:

• For the rice: Sprinkle the saffron on the ice cubes in a small bowl and let sit at room temperature until the ice is completely melted, about 1 hour. This is your bloomed saffron.
• Meanwhile, rinse the rice a few times until the water runs clean.
• Melt the butter in a 3-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add half the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and golden, about 5 minutes. Add the rice and 1 teaspoon salt and stir to combine. Add 3 1/4 cups water and the bloomed saffron, then turn the heat to medium high.
• Bring the liquid to a boil, then lower the heat to medium. Cover the pan and cook until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
• For the topping: Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the onions and fry, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Add the raisins and cook, stirring occasionally, until warmed and slightly softened, about 2 minutes (see Cook's Note). Set aside.
• When the rice is ready, remove from the heat and let sit for 5 minutes so it can finish steaming. Fluff with a fork and transfer to a serving plate. Top with the onion and raisin mixture and serve.

INDIAN SAFFRON RICE

Steps:

• Steep the saffron in 1/2 cup boiling water.
• In a skillet that can be tightly covered, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Stir in the rice and salt. Cook, stirring constantly, until the rice begins to absorb the butter and becomes opaque, but do not brown the rice.
• Quickly pour in the remaining 1 1/2 cups boiling water along with the saffron water. Cover immediately, reduce heat to low, and cook 20 minutes, or until all of the liquid is absorbed. For best results, do not remove the lid while the rice is cooking.

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.

SAFFRON BASMATI RICE

Steps:

• Rinse the rice in a colander under cold water until it runs clear, picking out any little pieces of grit or debris. Shake off the excess water. Heat a pot over medium heat, and then add the rice, oil, garlic, saffron and cayenne pepper. Stir and toast the rice until the cayenne and saffron are fragrant, about 4 minutes. Shake the pot to level out the rice, and then add the chicken stock to fill about 1/2-inch over the rice. Bring to a boil, and then lower to a simmer and cover to cook for 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and let the rice stand another 5 minutes, covered. Fluff with a fork. Stir in the almond slivers and lemon zest, season with salt and pepper and serve.

CUMIN AND SAFFRON RICE

Steps:

• Heat oil and fry black cumin seeds for 10 seconds.
• Add rice and saute for a few minutes until rice starts to change color and become opaque.
• Add water and salt. Bring to a boil, turn down heat and cover.
• Simmer until all liquid is absorbed (15 to 20 minutes) and rice is cooked.
• Pour saffron water into middle 2-inch circle of rice. Leave covered for a few minutes for water to be absorbed.
• Fluff up rice with a fork and mix. Rice should be a marbled mix of white and yellow grains.

INDIAN SWEET SAFFRON RICE WITH RAISINS AND PISTACHIOS

Steps:

• Bring water to boil in saucepan. Place the saffron threads in a small bowl and add 2 1/2 tablespoons of the boiling water and soak the threads for 10 to 15 minutes.
• In the meantime, add the basmati rice, cinnamon stick, cloves and salt to the saucepan of boiling water. Cover and simmer 20 to 25 minutes or until rice is tender. Remove from heat and let sit with cover on for 5 minutes.
• Optional: In small pan, lightly saute onion in oil and set aside.
• Next combine the saffron water (strain the water through a small sieve to remove threads), sweetener and cardamom seeds in a small saucepan. Place over medium heat and stir until the sweetener is dissolved. Lower heat and simmer 1 minute. Pour the syrup over the rice (and stir in onions if using) then re-cover pan.
• Heat the ghee or oil in small pan over medium-low heat until warm but not smoking. Fry the nuts and raisins until nuts are golden brown and the raisins swell. Stir the raisins, nuts and oil into the hot cooked rice and gently fluff with fork. Remove cinnamon stick and cloves. Spoon rice onto a serving platter and garnish with toasted nuts if desired.

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.

KASHMIRI CHICKEN, CARDAMOM AND SAFFRON PILAU: SPICED INDIAN RICE

Steps:

• Rinse the basmati rice several times in cold water and drain in a colander - leave to dry.
• Heat half of the oil (1 tablespoon) in a large pan and add half of the onion (1 onion), the garlic, ginger and cumin seeds. Fry them over a gentle heat for about 5 minutes.
• Add the chicken pieces and brown them - turning them regularly to achieve a good colour all over.
• Add the saffron, boiling water, cardamom pods, mint, garam masala and cinnamon stick. Bring it all to the boil and then cover, reduce the heat and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, until the chicken is tender.
• Transfer all the contents to a bowl and rinse out the pan.
• Add the remaining oil and onion to the pan and fry until the onion is lightly coloured. Add the rice and stir it well, cook for about 2 to 3 minutes until the rice is opaque.
• Add the chicken mixture, tomatoes and sultanas - then season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir gently, then shake the pan to level the ingredients.
• Add sufficient boiling water to come about 3/4" above the rice mixture. Cover with a tight fitting lid and cook gently over a low heat for 20 to 25 minutes, until the rice is tender and the liquid has all been absorbed.
• Discard the cinnamon stick and transfer to a warm serving dish, sprinkle with the toasted almonds and serve immediately.