Saffron Almond Rice Food

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.

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 ALMOND RICE

Steps:

• Pour the rice and water into a small pot with a lid and add saffron, almonds, apricots and seasoning.
• Stir gently and bring to a slow steady simmer, stir and cover with a tight fitting lid.
• Simmer for 15 minutes on low heat.
• Without opening the lid turn off the heat and let the pot rest at least five to ten minutes or so before serving. Enjoy!

SAFFRON RICE PILAF WITH TOASTED ALMONDS

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan on medium-low heat, toast almonds until they turn a golden-brown color. Remove from saucepan and set aside.
• In the same saucepan on medium heat, melt butter.
• Add vermicelli noodles and brown for 1 minute.
• Add rice and brown for 1-2 additional minutes being careful not to burn noodles or rice.
• Add seasoned salt, saffron, toasted almonds and chicken broth and bring to a boil.
• Cover saucepan and reduce heat to lowest setting. Cook covered for 16 minutes.
• Remove lid and fluff with a fork.

SAFFRON AND TOASTED ALMOND ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Combine milk and half of the sugar in a large saucepan and heat gently.
• Place the almonds on a sheet pan and toast in the oven, shaking the pan occasionally, for 5 to 6 minutes or until almonds are light brown.
• Add the almonds immediately to the milk and sugar mixture. Once the milk mixture comes to a gentle boil, remove from the heat, cover and let steep 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, place the milk mixture on low heat. While this is heating, combine the remaining sugar with the egg yolks and either by hand or with an electric mixer, whisk until the eggs become pale in color, about 3 minutes. Slowly drizzle a little of the hot milk mixture into the egg yolk mixture to increase the temperature of the yolk mixture. Next, slowly whisk the yolk mixture into the milk mixture. Cook the mixture over a low heat, stirring constantly. Once the mixture has thickened and coats the back of the spoon, about 3 to 5 minutes, remove from heat and strain through a find sieve into a high-sided canister. Add the saffron and amaretto and place in a large bowl of ice water. Stir occasionally and when completely cool, place in an ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer's directions. The texture will then be best if you transfer the ice cream to another container and place in freezer for at least 3 hours or overnight.

SAFFRON ALMOND RICE PILAF

Steps:

• In a large saucepan over medium high heat, bring the vegetable broth to a boil. Turn off the heat and add the saffron, salt and pepper; set aside.
• Heat the butter in a large saucepan over medium high heat until melted and bubbly. Add the onion and cook for 3 minutes, until onion begins to soften.
• Add the basmati rice to the onions and stir over medium high heat for 2 minutes, until the rice begins to brown.
• Add the broth mixture to the rice, bring to a boil then turn heat down to simmer, cover the pot and simmer for 10 minutes, until the rice has absorbed water and is no longer crunchy.

SAFFRON ALMOND RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Heat broth and water in a small saucepan over moderate heat until hot, then crumble saffron into liquid and stir. Remove from heat.
• Cook onion in butter in a 2-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Add rice and cook, stirring, until fragrant and pale golden, about 3 minutes. Stir in saffron broth, salt, and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cook, covered, until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed, about 18 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, 5 minutes, then fluff rice with a fork and fold in almonds.

BRAISED CHICKEN AND RICE WITH ORANGE, SAFFRON, ALMOND, AND PISTACHIO SYRUP

Steps:

• Rinse the rice in a sieve under cold running water until the water runs clear; put to one side.
• Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot and throw in the onions. Cook over medium heat until they soften and turn golden. Season the chicken thighs and add them to the pan. Brown on all sides, then pour in 2 1/2 cups water and bring to a simmer. Cover with a lid and cook until the chicken is tender, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, peel the zest from the orange with a potato peeler, then cut it into matchstick strips. Blanch in a small pan of boiling water for a couple of minutes, then drain.
• Dissolve the sugar in 1/2 cup (scant) water in a small, heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat, then bring to a boil and let bubble to reduce and thicken for 5 to 10 minutes until syrupy. Add the orange zest, slivered almonds, and pistachios and boil for 5 minutes, skimming off any froth. Strain the syrup and return to the pan; set aside the orange zest and nuts. Add the saffron and rose water to the syrup and boil again for 3 minutes, then add the cardamom seeds.
• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Strain the stock from the chicken thighs and add the syrup to it. Make this up to 3 cups with more water. Bring it to a boil in an ovenproof casserole and add the rice. Season and add two-thirds of the orange zest and nuts, keeping the rest to one side. Bring back to a boil, then cover and simmer until the rice is cooked. The liquid should have all been absorbed by now.
• Bury the chicken and onions in the rice and add the fava beans and peas, if you are including them. Put the lid on and cook in the oven for 20 minutes.
• Serve straight from the pan or, if you prefer, in a large, warmed serving dish. Sprinkle the last third of the orange zest and nuts over the top before bringing it to the table.

LEMON-SCENTED SAFFRON RICE

Steps:

• Melt butter in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add shallots and saffron and cook 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add rice and stir to coat. Add stock and lemon juice; bring to boil. Reduce heat to low, stir and cover. Let simmer until creamy and tender, stirring vigorously every 10 minutes, 20 to 25 minutes. Add lemon peel and chives. Season with salt and pepper. Stir vigorously until well combined.

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.

SAFFRON RICE PILAF WITH APRICOTS AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• Melt butter in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Add chopped onion, ground saffron and cloves and saut&5 minutes. Add rice and stir to coat grains. Mix in chicken stock, dried apricots and currants. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low. Cover and cook until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Fluff rice with fork. Add slivered almonds and season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to bowl and serve.

GARLIC-ALMOND-SHERRY RICE WITH SAFFRON

Steps:

• In a heavy saucepan, saute garlic in olive oil until very lightly browned.
• Add rice and saute about 3 minutes.
• Combine water and sherry; add to rice and garlic in saucepan.
• Add almond extract and pinch of saffron.
• Bring to a boil, then cover tightly and cook over low heat for 20 minutes.
• Season with salt to taste.
• To serve, top with toasted almond slivers or slices.