Simple Saffron Rice Recipe
Today’s feast highlight is saffron rice; the perfect accompaniment to take any middle-eastern-style feast to the next level.
Saffron
Saffron is “the world’s most expensive spice” – for good reason. The spice itself is harvested from the center of the saffron crocus flower and each flower produces as few as 3 strands. All spices are harvested by hand, so this is why the spice is so expensive. Don’t waste any!
Most commonly used in middle-eastern, eastern and Mediterranean cuisine, saffron is best served with dishes featuring spices like sumac, zatar and coriander. Saffron rice, with beautifully rich flavour and vibrant colour, can highlight and accompany any feast.
As a non-professional, I love when my dishes look gourmet. As a result, this is a simple add-on that makes your feast look spectacular. Follow along here in order to make your restaurant-quality saffron rice right in the comfort of your own kitchen! As always, the point of this blog is that if you can order it in a restaurant, you can make it at home!
Rice Cooker
Rice cookers are a staple in any Asian household and, easily, simplify an otherwise finicky process by creating a set-it-and-forget-it task. I almost exclusively use the rice cooker for all rice and rice-related activities. Give it a shot; you won’t regret it!
Simple Saffron Rice Recipe
Equipment
- Rice cooker makes this recipe super easy, but also done with ease on the stovetop.
Materials
- 3.5 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 2 cups Basmati rice (or other long-grain rice)
- 1 Tbsp butter
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp turmeric
- 1/4 tsp saffron
- 2 Tbsp finely diced onions white, yellow or sweet
- juice from half of a lemon (more or less, depending on preference)
- crushed chili for garnish (or can also add into cooking if you prefer)
Instructions
Rice Cooker
- After rinsing rice at least once, add all ingredients into rice cooker, giving a quick stir, as spices, onion and butter tend to float on the top of the water.
- Press start. Let Run.
- Garnish with beautiful saffron, chilis, parsley, etc.
Stovetop
- After rinsing rice, add all ingredients into a stovetop pot with sealing lid.
- Bring to a boil for 5-8 minutes, stirring thoroughly, then reduce heat to low.
- Steam for approx. 20+ minutes, or until all water has been absorbed and rice feels tender, fluffy and nice-feeling.
- Garnish with some beautiful saffron, chilis, parsley, etc.
Notes
Fun tips:
Taste your saffron! You will notice that it has a very unique flavour. Until I tried it, I had no idea what saffron tasted like. Previoulsy, it was a fun little red wiry spice that came wrapped in wax paper, in a paper envelope, sealed in a normal spice jar that, for some reason, costs $18 instead of $5-8. By tasting your spices, you’ll see why eastern cooking styles love it.
For some general tips and tricks on how to cook rice, click here!
Try this as part of an entire feast:
Kafta Recipe
Tabbouleh Recipe
Grilled Zucchini
Egyptian-Style Lamb
Pomegranate Cucumber Salad
Tzatziki
Hummus
Have fun!
Saffron rice is a great way to brighten up your meal and impress your guests. If you have ideas on how to make this recipe even simpler and tastier, please let me know!
Love food; love life. Enjoy! – HCF