Saffron Rice With Currants Food

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.

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.

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 WITH CURRANTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
• Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in the top part of a double boiler placed directly on the stovetop over medium-high heat. Add onion. Cook, stirring, until onion is wilted. Add rice and cook, stirring, for about 30 seconds. Add all remaining ingredients except the remaining butter and bring to a boil.
• Cover and place in the oven. Cook exactly 20 minutes. Remove and discard the bay leaf. Fluff the rice with a fork and stir in the remaining butter. Cover.
• Assemble the double boiler; that is, place the pot containing the rice over simmering water in the bottom half of the double boiler and let stand until ready to serve.

MINTED SAFFRON RICE WITH CURRANTS AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• In a large heavy saucepan heat oil over moderate heat until hot but not smoking and cook cuminseed, cinnamon stick, and bay leaf, stirring, until mixture is fragrant and cuminseed is several shades darker (be careful not to burn it).
• Add onion and cook, stirring, until softened. Add rice and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add water, currants, saffron, and salt and bring to a boil, covered. Reduce heat to very low and simmer rice, covered, 20 minutes, or until liquid is absorbed.
• Let rice stand 5 minutes. Discard cinnamon stick and bay leaf and stir in pine nuts and mint.

SAFFRON RICE WITH CURRANTS AND SNOW PEAS

Steps:

• Soak currants in wine until needed.
• In a heavy medium saucepan, melt butter and stir in rice; cook over medium low heat, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Bring broth to a boil with saffron. Pour over rice; stir in basil, salt and pepper to taste. Simmer, covered, until all liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Stir in currants and wine. Spread on a large platter and arrange quail on top.
• Steam or stir fry snow peas and place around edge or at ends of platter. Makes 6 to 8 servings.
• Canadian Living the Merry Christmas Cookbook Special.

SAFFRON RICE WITH CASHEWS

Steps:

• Dissolve saffron in warm milk.
• Melt butter in a medium to large saucepan.
• Add currants, nuts, and rice.
• Stir over a low heat for several minutes.
• Add Water, salt, sugar, cinnamon, and the dissolved saffron and milk mixture.
• Stir briefly.
• Raise the heat and bring the water to a boil.
• Lower heat, and cover to barely simmer for 25 minutes.
• Serve immediately.
• For Vegan use only the Soy milk and a Vegan [no dairy products] margarine.