Saffron

[winterinmoscow]

Just been given some. anyone got a good recipe? I've not cooked with it before but keen to try. I understand it's used in Asian/Middle eastern recipes. Veggie recipes would be very welcome

 

[lynne8]

I'm sure you could use veggie stock or even water instead of chicken for this.

Saffron Risotto

28 ounces chicken stock
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 onion, finely chopped
1 cup arborio rice
1 cup white wine
Large pinch of saffron
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, plus shavings for garnish

Bring stock to a low simmer in a medium pot. Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat for 1 minute. Cook onion until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add rice and a pinch of salt. Sauté until rice is translucent, 1 to 2 minutes. Add wine and saffron; bring to a simmer, stirring, until rice has absorbed most of wine. Add 2 ladles of stock to rice; simmer, stirring, until rice has absorbed most of stock. Continue adding stock, allowing rice to absorb it before adding the next ladleful. Cook until rice is al dente and mixture is a little loose. Stir in butter. Turn off heat. Stir in grated cheese. Cover and let sit 2 minutes. Divide among 4 bowls. Garnish each with cheese shavings, if desired.

Here's a link that might help.
http://saharsaffron.com/SaffronRecipes.htm

 

[Epona]

When I think of saffron, I always think of paella - I do a seafood only one, but really saffron goes well with rice, so a paella or risotto type thing would work well.

I also once had a pasta dish at a restaurant which involved a cream and saffron sauce with artichoke hearts - very nice but may be not to everyone's taste, the saffron and cream mix tends to be quite sweet!

Or if you wanted something different, here is a recipe for Cornish Saffron Cake

 

[moose]

Here's a veggie paella which has saffron in it. It's lovely!

 

[Juice Terry]

Its lush in natural yoghurt. Lob in some cardamon pods, sugar, dilute with iced water and you've got a wicked lassi.

 

[selamlar]

Paella/risotto is what you do with saffron. End of.

 

[Looby]

Nigella has a recipe for saffron lamb, it's gorgeous. I'll post it up later if you want.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Just been given some. anyone got a good recipe? I've not cooked with it before but keen to try. I understand it's used in Asian/Middle eastern recipes. Veggie recipes would be very welcome

It's the most expensive spice in the world so don't waste it

 

[ringo]

Paella or potato and tomato braised in saffron. Or saffron rice.
Nearly finished the boxes of the stuff I brought back from southern Spain where they grow it, going to get a shock when I have to start buying it here again.

 

[Y_I_Otter]

Not vegetarian, but outstanding nevertheless.

Djedj Mechoui
Algerian Marinated Roast Chicken
(adapted from The Great Book of Couscous)

1tsp saffron (or tumeric, if you're out of it)
1tsp cumin seeds
1/2 tsp black pepper
1tsp salt
1 small onion, chopped fine (1/2 cup)
1/4 cup parsley, chopped
1 1/2 Tbsp garlic puree
juice of one lemon
2 1/2-- 3 pound whole chicken, loose skin and excess fat discarded
1Tbsp butter

Mix together saffron, cumin, pepper, salt, onion, parsley, garlic and lemon juice. Rub this into the chicken, inside and out. Refrigerate overnight.

Rub a roasting pan with half the butter. Add the chicken and dot the breast with the rest of the butter.

Roast at 325F oven for 1 1/2 hours. Let stand for 15 minutes and cut into serving portions.
Great with rice or couscous.

 

[fractionMan]

You can make a really nice pasta suace with it and a bit of salmon.