Saffron Aïoli Recipes

SAFFRON AIOLI

Steps:

• Steep the saffron threads in warm water for about 10 minutes. Drain water, but don't allow threads to dry out.
• Combine mayonnaise, and lemon juice with a wire whisk, mixing together until uniform.
• Add pressed garlic, only 1/2 of saffron threads, 1 teaspoon of saffron powder, and 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper and continue to mix once again until uniform in texture.
• Use remaining saffron threads to garnish aioli in a small ramekin, bowl, or directly on top of food. Serve cool to slightly below room temperature.

PATATAS BRAVAS WITH SAFFRON AïOLI

Steps:

• Make the potatoes: Put the potatoes in a large pot; cover with water by 1 inch and season with salt. Bring to a boil, then simmer until tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Drain the potatoes on a kitchen towel-lined baking sheet; let cool.
• Working in two batches, fry the potatoes in 365˚ vegetable oil until crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain on paper towels.
• Meanwhile, make the aïoli: Soak the saffron in 3 tablespoons hot water, 10 minutes. Puree in a blender with the egg yolks, garlic, lemon juice, mustard and a pinch of salt.With the blender on high speed, slowly add the vegetable and olive oil and blend until thick and smooth, adding a few drops of water if needed; season with salt.
• Sprinkle the potatoes with salt and smoked paprika and drizzle with the saffron aïoli.

SAFFRON AïOLI

Steps:

• Put the saffron in a small bowl with 1 tbsp boiling water. Leave for 10 mins to cool and for the water to turn a golden colour.
• Meanwhile, put the egg yolks, garlic, mustard and lemon juice in a jug or a tall container with a pinch of salt and blitz with a stick blender (or in a food processor) until smooth. Slowly add the olive oil, a small drizzle at a time, keeping the blender on, until you get a thick, glossy mayonnaise. Season with black pepper, then stir in the saffron water to loosen the aïoli and turn it a golden hue. Cover the surface and chill until ready to serve. Add a splash of water or lemon juice, to serve, if your aïoli thickens up too much in the fridge.

PINK SHRIMP CROSTINI, BOUILLABAISSE RELISH AND SAFFRON AIOLI

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and cook until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the shrimp and saute until cooked through, about 3 minutes. Add the chives and lemon juice, and season with salt and pepper. Place a spoonful of the Bouillabaisse Sauce on a plate. Place a piece of baguette on top of the sauce, and then a large spoonful of the cooked shrimp. Top with the Bouillabaisse Relish. Finish with a spoonful of the Saffron Aioli.
• Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the fennel, onions and garlic and cook, stirring frequently to prevent sticking, for about 10 minutes. Then add the tomatoes, peppers and thyme. Continue to cook and stir for 8 minutes. Add the white wine and cook until it has reduced by half. Then add the fish stock. Increase the heat and bring to a boil. Add the fish and decrease the heat to a simmer. Cook for 5 minutes. Add the basil and Espelette, then turn off the heat and let cool slightly. Place the sauce into a blender and blend until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
• Heat the olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat and saute the carrot, celery, fennel and onions until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the basil. Season with salt and pepper.
• In small saucepan, heat the saffron threads and 1 tablespoon water to a boil and set aside to cool. Put the garlic in a small bowl with the egg and some pepper and whisk until combined. Slowly whisk in the olive oil, in drops at first and increasing the amount added as the sauce thickens. Add the lemon juice, saffron water and season with salt and pepper.

DIRTY RICE ARANCINI WITH SAFFRON AIOLI

Steps:

• For the dirty rice arancini: Place the chicken stock in a small pot with a fat pinch of saffron and bring to a simmer. Let simmer for a few minutes to infuse. Keep warm over low heat.
• Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a medium saucepan. Add the chicken livers and hearts and saute until cooked through. Deglaze the pan with the sweet vermouth and let evaporate. Remove the hearts and livers from the pan and set aside.
• To the same pot, add the remaining tablespoon olive oil. Add the pancetta and cook until browned and crisp. Add the onions and garlic; cook for a few minutes. Add the rice and toast for another 3 to 4 minutes. Deglaze the pan with the white wine and let evaporate. Begin adding the warm stock a ladleful at a time. Cook, stirring constantly, until the rice has absorbed all of the stock before adding the next ladleful. Do this for 17 minutes. When finished, remove the risotto from the heat and stir in the chicken hearts and livers, the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and the Parmesan. Add salt and pepper to taste. Pour the risotto onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and place in the refrigerator to cool.
• Heat the oil in a deep fryer to 350 degrees F..
• Set up a breading station: In the first shallow dish, place the flour and season with salt and pepper. In the next dish, add the beaten eggs and a touch of water; season with salt and pepper. In the last dish, mix together the breadcrumbs, cornmeal, pecorino, parsley, fennel pollen, red pepper flakes, orange zest and lemon zest.
• Take the cooled risotto out of the fridge, form into Ping-Pong-ball-size balls and roll tightly. Dredge the rice balls in the flour, then the egg wash and then in the breadcrumb mixture. Fry in batches until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Remove to a paper-towel-lined plate and season with salt.
• For the saffron aioli: Place a small skillet over medium-low heat. Add the olive oil, followed by the garlic, lemon zest, orange zest and saffron. Cook for 1 minute. Set aside to cool.
• In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the egg yolk and mustard. Whisking constantly, slowly stream in the grapeseed oil to emulsify. When all of the oil has been added, season with salt and lemon juice. Stir in the cooled saffron mixture to combine.
• Serve the arancini on a plate with saffron aioli and lemon wedges.

SEA SCALLOPS WITH SAFFRON AIOLI

Steps:

• Put the orange juice and saffron in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook for about 1 minute, until orange juice is infused with the saffron; stir in the zest and remove from the heat to cool slightly. Whisk the orange mixture and the mayonnaise in a small bowl until combined. Season with salt and set aside while you cook the scallops.
• Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Pat the scallops dry with a paper towel and season well with salt and pepper. When the oil is rippling, add the scallops and sear, turning once, until golden brown but still opaque in the center, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove the scallops from the skillet to serving dishes, (3 to 4 per person), and drizzle with the aioli. Serve immediately.

ROASTED SWEET POTATO WEDGES WITH SAFFRON AIOLI

Steps:

• To make the aioli: Lightly sprinkle the garlic with a pinch of the salt and smash it into a paste with the side of a cook's knife. Set aside.
• Pour about 2 inches of water into a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
• In a medium, heatproof bowl, whisk together the remaining salt, egg yolk, vinegar, water, lemon juice, and saffron until light and frothy. Place the bowl over the simmering water and whisk constantly until the yolk mixture is just warmer than room temperature, about 20 seconds. Remove from the heat and whisk in the garlic paste.
• While whisking constantly, gradually drizzle in the olive oil until a smooth and slightly thick sauce is formed. Store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
• Meanwhile, make the sweet potatoes: Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 425 degrees F.
• Put a baking sheet on the center rack and preheat for 10 minutes.
• Quarter the sweet potatoes and leave the skins on. In a large bowl, toss the wedges with the olive oil. Carefully remove the hot baking sheet from the oven and place the wedges evenly spaced on the pan, cut-side down. Bake until the bottoms of the potatoes are lightly browned, about 15 minutes.
• Carefully remove the hot baking sheet from the oven. Turn the wedges so the other cut side comes in contact with the hot baking sheet. Continue to bake the sweet potatoes until both sides are browned and tender, about 15 minutes more.
• To serve, arrange the sweet potatoes on a platter, and season with salt, to taste. Drizzle the potatoes with some of the aioli. Serve warm.
• Cook's Note: We recommend golden olive oil for its smooth finish and low acidity. The golden color comes from olive pressed at the peak of ripeness. These oils are made on California, southern France, and Sicily.
• Copyright 2001 Television Food Network, GP. All rights reserved
• *RAW EGG WARNING
• Food Network Kitchens suggest caution in consuming raw and lightly-cooked eggs due to the slight risk of Salmonella or other food-borne illness. To reduce this risk, we recommend you use only fresh, properly-refrigerated, clean, grade A or AA eggs with intact shells, and avoid contact between the yolks or whites and the shell.

BAKED YAMS WITH SAFFRON AIOLI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Prick each yam with a fork in a few spots and arrange on a baking sheet. Bake until soft, about 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the olive oil, grapeseed oil, whole garlic cloves and saffron in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until the garlic is soft, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool completely. Remove the cooked garlic with a slotted spoon and transfer to a cutting board (reserve the infused oil). Using the flat side of a chef's knife, mash the garlic with a pinch of salt until smooth; set aside.
• Make the aioli: Put the egg yolks, lemon juice, 1 tablespoon water and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium heatproof bowl. Bring a few inches of water to a bare simmer in a medium saucepan, then turn off the heat. Set the bowl with the egg yolks over the saucepan (do not let the bowl touch the water); whisk just until the egg mixture thickens slightly, 30 seconds to 1 minute, then remove the bowl from the saucepan. Using a hand mixer or a whisk, gradually beat in the saffron-infused oil in a slow, steady stream until the aioli is thick and creamy. (If it gets too thick, beat in 1 to 2 teaspoons water.) Mix in the mashed cooked garlic, grated fresh garlic and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cover and refrigerate.
• Remove the yams from the oven and let cool slightly. Split open and fluff the insides with a fork. Thin the aioli with water, if desired, and spoon onto the yams. Sprinkle with parsley.

SAFFRON AIOLI

Steps:

• Crumble the saffron threads into the hot water in a small bowl. Let them steep 10 minutes.
• In the bowl of a blender, briefly buzz the garlic, lemon juice, salt and egg yolks to combine. Add the saffron and the water and buzz until smooth.
• With the motor running, drizzle in the olive oil until the whole thing emulsifies into a mayonnaise-like consistency. Taste for salt and acid, adding a little lemon juice and salt if needed.
• Serve the aioli cold. It should last in the fridge for several days.

SAFFRON-GARLIC AIOLI

Steps:

• Combine garlic, potato, Dijon mustard, infused saffron, red wine vinegar and water in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth and add olive oil slowly to emulsify. Adjust seasonings with salt, pepper, and lemon juice.;

GRILLED ASPARAGUS WITH SAFFRON AïOLI

Steps:

• For aioli:
• Whisk vinegar, honey, and saffron threads in heavy small saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to boil. Remove from heat. Cool completely. Mix mayonnaise and garlic in medium bowl to blend. Mix in cooled vinegar mixture. Season aioli to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• For asparagus:
• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Toss asparagus with oil on rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill asparagus until crisp-tender, turning occasionally, about 5 minutes. Transfer to platter. Drizzle aioli over asparagus. Sprinkle with bell pepper.

ROAST RED MULLET WITH COURGETTE FRIES & SAFFRON AïOLI

Steps:

• For the aïoli, rehydrate the saffron in 1 tbsp boiling water. In a small food processor, blitz the egg yolks, a large pinch of salt, the mustard, garlic cloves and lemon juice until emulsified. With the blades still going, very slowly pour in the extra virgin oil in steady drops, increasing to a stream once it starts emulsifying. If it splits, just add a squeeze of lemon and blitz again - it will come together. Once the olive oil is incorporated, slowly pour in the vegetable or sunflower oil, blitzing the whole time, then add the saffron and its water. Blitz until creamy, then season and chill for at least 3 hrs. Will keep for up to two days in the fridge.
• To make the fries, cut the courgettes in half widthways. Cut each half into three thick slices, and each slice into chip-like wedges, about the size and thickness of oven chips. Tip the rice and polenta flours into a bowl with ½ tsp salt, the fennel seeds and cayenne, and stir. In another bowl, whisk the egg white until frothy. Coat the courgette strips in the egg white, then dip into the flours. Lay on a plate. Heat the olive oil over a medium to high heat, then fry the courgettes until crisp and golden all over (about 4-6 mins) - you may need to do this in batches. Drain on kitchen paper and season.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Take the fish out of the fridge 30 mins before cooking to bring it up to room temperature. Put the fennel, bay leaf, tomatoes (keeping back four tomato slices for the mullet) and red pepper in a roasting tin and season. Drizzle over a little olive oil and roast for 10 mins. Remove from the oven and pour over the vermouth. Season the fish and rub with a little olive oil, then fill their cavities with the tomato slices and thyme, and lay them on top of the fennel mix. Cover with foil and roast for 30 mins (depending on the size of the fish), then remove the foil and roast for a further 5 mins.
• Transfer the fish to a plate and allow to rest under the foil. Return the tray with the peppers and fennel to the oven, along with the courgettes, for 5 mins. Serve with the fish, aïoli and lemon wedges.

SEAFOOD PAELLA AND SAFFRON AIOLI

Steps:

• To make the aioli: In a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, combine the egg yolks, garlic clove, saffron and a pinch of salt. Whisk at high speed while adding the oil drop by drop. As the mixture thickens, increase the oil to a very thin trickle until it is used up and the aioli is thick and wobbly. Adjust the seasoning with a squeeze of lemon juice and more salt, if needed.
• To make the paella: In a large deep-sided frying pan or paella pan with a lid, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until soft and golden, about 15 minutes.
• Coarsely grate the tomatoes, cut side down, until only the skin remains. Discard the skins. There should be about 2 cups.
• Stir the tomatoes, peppers, bay leaves and paprika into the onion. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until no liquid remains, about 15 minutes. Add the stock, bring to a boil and pour in the rice. Stir and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring a few times to prevent sticking.
• Add the peas, squid, mussels or clams, and shrimp, incorporating everything into the rice. Simmer over low heat until nearly all the liquid has disappeared, about 10 minutes. Cover with a lid, remove from heat and rest for 5 to 10 minutes more. Scatter with parsley and cool. Serve with the saffron aioli and lemon wedges.

SAFFRON ALIOLI

Steps:

• Put saffron threads in a small cup, then add hot water and let stand 5 minutes.
• Purée saffron mixture with remaining ingredients in a mini food processor or a blender until smooth.

AïOLI

Steps:

• In a small bowl pour 1 tbsp of boiling water over the saffron and set aside. Put the garlic, egg yolks and mustard into a food processor or blender. Blitz into a paste and very slowly dribble in the olive oil to make a thick mayonnaise-style sauce. When everything's come together add the saffron, saffron water and lemon juice, then season to taste. The aïoli will keep covered in the fridge for up to 2 days.