Persian Saffron Rice Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 pinch of saffron
• 3 cups basmati rice
• 1 tsp salt

Method

1. In the morning of the day of making the rice, wash it GENTLY (it’s easily damaged) and soak it in heavily salted water for the entire day until evening. Note: after soaking, it’s even more fragile.
2. Take a good pinch of Saffron. Smell it, it should be earthy and sweet. Grind it in a mortar and pestle, and add some boiling or nearly-boiling water…about 2 tbsp. Let it steep in the water for about 30 minutes or more.
3. Put a wide based pan on the heat and add some butter or oil. Put the thoroughly-drained basmati rice into the oil and give it a good but gentle stir to ensure the oil coats the grains. Add some salt to taste (+/- 1 level teaspoon) and stir again.
4. Turn heat down to about the lowest it will go. Add 4 1/4 cups of boiling water to the rice (hiss! sizzle!), stir once to make sure all the rice is spread out and in the water but not too much stirring.
5. Cover tightly, keep on the lowest heat for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, the water should be completely absorbed and the rice fluffy and white. If not, turn heat up very slightly and leave until it is done.
6. At this stage, pour the Saffron infusion into 3 points in the rice and replace the lid. No stirring. Leave for 10 minutes.
7. When you’re ready to serve, fork through the rice gently to separate it, and you’ll see you have 2 colours of rice: pinky red and white.

Serves 4

Source:  Nigela

Persian Saffron Rice Recipe

Recipe by Saffron and MoreCourse: Main Meals, Recipes

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

30

minutes

Cooking time

40

minutes

Ingredients

• 1 pinch of saffron

• 3 cups basmati rice

• 1 tsp salt

Directions

• In the morning of the day of making the rice, wash it GENTLY (it’s easily damaged) and soak it in heavily salted water for the entire day until evening. Note: after soaking, it’s even more fragile.
• Take a good pinch of Saffron. Smell it, it should be earthy and sweet. Grind it in a mortar and pestle, and add some boiling or nearly-boiling water…about 2 tbsp. Let it steep in the water for about 30 minutes or more.
• Put a wide based pan on the heat and add some butter or oil. Put the thoroughly-drained basmati rice into the oil and give it a good but gentle stir to ensure the oil coats the grains. Add some salt to taste (+/- 1 level teaspoon) and stir again.
• Turn heat down to about the lowest it will go. Add 4 1/4 cups of boiling water to the rice (hiss! sizzle!), stir once to make sure all the rice is spread out and in the water but not too much stirring.
• Cover tightly, keep on the lowest heat for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, the water should be completely absorbed and the rice fluffy and white. If not, turn heat up very slightly and leave until it is done.
• At this stage, pour the Saffron infusion into 3 points in the rice and replace the lid. No stirring. Leave for 10 minutes.
• When you’re ready to serve, fork through the rice gently to separate it, and you’ll see you have 2 colours of rice: pinky red and white.