by Shadi at Unicorns in the Kitchen

Learn how to bloom saffron once and forever. This technique is a no-fail and has been in Persian families for the longest time! There is so much you can do with bloomed saffron!

This beautiful mystic spice is the star of many Persian dishes, and I’m going to show you how easy it is to bloom it!

I will never deny the fact that Persian recipes is my all time favorite, and Persian saffron is my one and only “must have” spice. I grew up in a home where my maman started making food early in the morning and the mesmerizing aroma of saffron and cinnamon always surrounded me, making me run into the kitchen and being hypnotized by the gorgeous show of ingredients, aromas and my maman’s magical hands and all the love that held us together.

Saffron has always been a very important part of my life. I remember we always used to search for that “perfect saffron” that has a golden orange color to it when bloomed. Now, wherever in the world I go, I always have that small jar of ground saffron that my maman has put in my bag. I don’t carry cosmetics but I do carry my own saffron!

Now, how we bloom saffron in my family might be a “taboo” for many Persians. A common approach is to bloom it with hot water, but we do the total opposite! We actually sprinkle saffron on top of ice and let it melt in room temperature. It gives perfect golden orange bloomed saffron that you can mix with rice, add to chicken, beef, lamb or any other protein, and even use to make dessert! This method is a total no-fail – that’s why we’ve been doing it for so many years!

To bloom saffron, you should always use ground saffron and never the threads. The traditional way to grind it is to use pestle and mortar. Some would mix saffron threads with very little sugar and salt to make the process easier but I prefer to spend more time grinding it rather than altering the pure taste of it. (or alternatively purchase our 5g Premium Ground Saffron)

You can keep bloomed saffron in the fridge for up to a week, though that never happens to me because I use bloomed saffron in almost everything! That easy, now you know how to bloom saffron!

Ingredients

1/4 tsp ground saffron never use the threads without grinding them
2 ice cubes

Method

Place the ice cubes in a small bowl or jar. Sprinkle ground saffron on top of the ice cubes and let it sit in room temperature until the ice is fully melted.
Use immediately or cover the bowl or jar and keep it in the fridge for up to a week.

Source: Unicorns in the kitchen

For an alternative method Please see: How to Brew Saffron HERE