Spiced Saffron Rice Food

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.

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.

CRISPY SAFFRON RICE

Steps:

• Put the rice in a large bowl, then cover with enough water so that it comes up a couple inches above the rice. Soak for 30 minutes. Drain the rice, then rinse it well.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add 2 tablespoons salt.
• Crush the saffron using a mortar and pestle, then add 3 tablespoons boiling water from the pot and allow to steep and break down.
• Add the rice to the boiling water and cook until it's soft on the outside but still has a bite on the inside, 4 to 5 minutes. Drain and rinse under cool water to stop the cooking.
• Heat a 12-inch nonstick skillet with a lid over medium-high heat and add the ghee and the saffron water; swirl it around so it coats the pan evenly. Add the rice and pack it down firmly with the back of a spatula, mounding it slightly higher in the center. Use the handle of the spatula to poke a few holes in the rice, stopping right before you get to the very bottom of the rice (this allows the steam to escape). Carefully cover the skillet with a clean dish towel and then the lid, folding the corners of the towel up around the lid so they don't touch the stove (if you're working with a gas range, you may want to fold the towel up around the lid before putting it on the skillet to be extra careful that your towel doesn't touch the flame). Cook on medium-high for 30 minutes, then reduce the heat to medium-low until the bottom is golden brown, about 7 minutes more. Carefully uncover the skillet, keeping the cover level so that any moisture collected under the towel doesn't spill out and burn you or fall back into the rice.
• Flip the rice out onto a plate so that the crispy bottom becomes the top. Serve!

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.

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:

• 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.

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.

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.

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.

CHICKEN PULAO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425˚ F. Mix the saffron and 1 tablespoon hot water in a bowl; set aside to steep. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a medium Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and a pinch of salt; cook, stirring, until golden brown and crisp, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove to a small bowl with a slotted spoon.
• Season the chicken on both sides with the cumin and a generous pinch each of salt and pepper. Add to the Dutch oven and cook, turning once, until lightly browned on both sides, 6 to 8 minutes; remove to a plate.
• Add the remaining 1 tablespoon butter to the pot along with the ginger and garlic and cook until toasted, about 30 seconds. Stir in the rice until well coated, then pour in the chicken broth, 1/2 cup water, the saffron with its liquid, ½ teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Bring to a simmer, then stir, lay the chicken on top and cover. Transfer the pot to the oven and cook until the chicken is cooked through and the rice has absorbed the liquid, about 15 minutes.
• Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and let rest 5 minutes. Add the peas to the rice; fluff with a fork. Season the yogurt with a pinch each of salt and pepper. Slice the chicken and serve with the rice. Drizzle with the yogurt and top with the shallots.

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.

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.

GOLDEN SAFFRON AND CARDAMOM SPICED CHICKEN & RICE PILAU

Steps:

• Marinate the chicken in the yogurt, lemon, cinnamon, small pinch of garam masala, and grated ginger for about 1 hour. Soak the saffron threads in the chicken stock.
• Shake the excess marinade off the chicken. In a large Dutch oven or Le Creuset over medium-high heat, fry the meat with a spoonful or so of oil (do this in batches so that the chicken becomes nicely golden in color). Remove chicken and browned bits to a plate, cover with aluminum foil to keep warm and set aside.
• In the same pan, melt the butter with 1 tablespoon of the oil and add the rice, stirring to coat until glossy. Pour in the saffron and chicken stock, add the sultanas, cardamom pods, rose water, lemon juice and zest and bring the pan to the boil, then clamp on the lid and turn the heat down to very low. Cook for about 10-15 minutes, by which time the rice should have absorbed the liquid and be cooked through.
• Add the chicken and the browned bits to the rice, stirring gently to combine.
• Toast the almonds by shaking them in a dry frying pan over a medium heat until they color and begin to give off their fragrance, then add to the pilaf along with the chopped parsley. Pile everything onto a plate and add a fabulously green sprinkling of slivered or roughly chopped pistachios.

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.