Saffron Mayonnaise Recipes

MUSSELS WITH SAFFRON MAYONNAISE

Steps:

• For the mayonnaise, soak the saffron in 1 tablespoon of hot water in a small bowl for 5 minutes. Whisk in the mayonnaise, lemon zest, lemon juice, mustard, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and refrigerate until ready to use.
• For the mussels, combine the fleur de sel and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and set aside. Heat a large, dry (12-inch) cast iron skillet over high heat for 4 to 5 minutes, until very hot. Add the mussels in a single layer and cook them for one minute, until they start to open. Add the wine and continue cooking for 2 to 3 minutes, until the mussels are fully opened and just cooked. (Discard any that don't open.) Off the heat, sprinkle the mussels generously with the salt and pepper mixture. Serve hot from the skillet with individual bowls of saffron mayonnaise for dipping.

SAFFRON AND DILL MAYONNAISE, PLUS GARLIC AND LEMON MAYONNAISE

Steps:

• SAFFRON MAYONNAISE: Grind 2 pinches of saffron in a mortar and add 1 tablespoon boiling water to infuse for several minutes. Stir this into 1 cup of mayonnaise. Serve with roasted red peppers and tomatoes, fried potatoes, Mediterranean soups, lentil or chickpeas.
• GARLIC MAYONNAISE: Coarsely chop 4 to 6 cloves garlic. Transfer into a mortar and pound with a pinch of salt until it turns into a paste. Stir into a cup of mayonnaise and add a little lemon juice to taste. Serve with chargrilled summer vegetables (eggplant, zucchini and charred red onion), a summer vegetable soup, or use as a dip for crudite.
• DILL AND LEMON MAYONNAISE: Add a quarter cup of chopped dill, 1 teaspoon lemon zest and lemon juice to taste to 1 cup mayonnaise. Serve with poached eggs, steamed vegetables and boiled new potatoes

BOUILLABAISSE BURGERS WITH TOMATO-FENNEL RELISH AND SAFFRON MAYONNAISE

Steps:

• For the relish:
• Combine all of the ingredients in a small bowl. Cover and chill until needed.
• For the mayonnaise:
• Combine the saffron threads and lemon juice in a small bowl and set aside to soak for 20 minutes to l hour.
• Transfer the soaked saffron to a blender. Add the mayonnaise and blend until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cover with plastic wrap and chill until serving time.
• For the patties:
• Spread the red snapper and shrimp evenly over the bottom of a large glass baking dish. Wearing kitchen gloves, or using a fork, gently mix in the egg whites, thyme, salt and pepper; combine together well. Mix in enough panko to bind the ingredients together and form into 6 equal patties to fit the slices of bread. Cover with plastic wrap and chill until needed, at least 30 minutes.
• Prepare a medium-hot fire in a charcoal grill with a cover, or preheat a gas grill to medium-high.
• When the grill is ready, generously brush the grill rack with canola oil. Lightly brush both sides of each slice of bread with olive oil. Place the bread slices on the outer edges of the grill rack to toast lightly, turning once with tongs; set aside. Place the patties on the
• middle of the grill rack, cover, and cook for 3 1/2 to 4 minutes, turning once with a large spatula, until the patties are just cooked through; do not overcook.
• To assemble the burgers, spread about l tablespoon of the mayonnaise evenly over 1 side of each toast. Place a patty on 6 of the mayonnaise-coated toasts. Using a slotted spoon, evenly top each patty with the tomato-fennel relish. Add the toast tops, mayonnaise side down.

GARLIC SAFFRON MAYONNAISE

Steps:

• In a food processor or blender puree small clove garlic, 1/4 teaspoon saffron dissolved in some rice vinegar; tablespoon pimentos. Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup mayonnaise or to taste. Add more rice vinegar to taste and season with salt and crushed red pepper. Thin with water if you wish.

COD WITH MUSSELS, CHORIZO, FRIED CROUTONS, AND SAFFRON MAYONNAISE

Steps:

• For saffron mayonnaise:
• Mix lime juice and saffron in small bowl. Let stand 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Whisk in mayonnaise, oil, and hot pepper sauce. Cover and chill at least 4 hours to allow flavors to develop. DO AHEAD: Can be made 3 days ahead. Keep refrigerated.
• For mussels:
• Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add shallots, garlic, crushed red pepper, and saffron and sauté 4 minutes. Add wine; bring to boil. Add mussels and thyme; cover and cook until mussels open, about 5 minutes (discard any mussels that do not open). Strain mussel broth into large saucepan; add chorizo, tomato, roasted pepper, and parsley to liquid. Remove mussels from shells. DO AHEAD: Mussels and cooking broth can be made 6 hours ahead. Cover separately and refrigerate.
• For fried croutons:
• Pour enough oil into heavy large saucepan to reach depth of 3 inches. Attach deep-fry thermometer to side of pan. Heat oil to 350°F. Whisk eggs, milk, and cayenne in large bowl. Add bread; stir to coat. Let soak 2 minutes. Drain off excess liquid. Working in batches, add bread to hot oil and cook until brown, turning as necessary, about 2 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels and drain.
• Meanwhile, prepare cod:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Bring clam juice and wine to simmer in small saucepan. Pour into 7x5-inch baking dish. Add cod pieces to dish; sprinkle with salt and drizzle with oil. Bake until fish is opaque in center, basting with poaching liquid twice, about 8 minutes.
• Bring mussel broth to simmer. Add mussels and heat through. Divide mussels and broth among 4 shallow soup bowls. Top each with piece of cod, 3 croutons, and dollop of saffron mayonnaise.v
• A pork-link sausage flavored with garlic and spices but milder than Mexican chorizo; available at specialty foods stores and Spanish markets and from tienda.com.

CHILLED MUSSELS WITH SAFFRON MAYONNAISE

Steps:

• Make the mussels: Bring water, wine, and garlic to a simmer in a large skillet. Add mussels, and cover tightly. Cook, about 2 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer mussels to a bowl as they open. Discard any unopened mussels. Refrigerate until chilled, at least 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the saffron mayonnaise: Simmer garlic in a small saucepan of water until tender, 15 minutes. Drain, and let cool. Crush saffron threads and 3/4 teaspoon salt with a mortar and pestle or with the back of a spoon. Puree garlic, yolks, and saffron salt in a food processor, or in a bowl using an immersion blender. With machine running, add vegetable oil in a slow, steady trickle, until mixture begins to emulsify. Continue adding remaining vegetable oil slowly, processing until incorporated. Gradually add olive oil, vinegar, and water, blending until silky. Transfer to a small bowl. (Mayonnaise can be refrigerated for up to 1 day.) Stir before serving.
• Remove mussels from their shells, and return each one to a half shell. Spoon mayonnaise on top of each mussel, and serve with vegetables on the side and remaining mayonnaise for dipping.

SCALLOPS IN SAFFRON MAYONNAISE

Steps:

• In a large skillet cook the scallops in 1 tablespoon of the oil, covered, over moderately high heat, shaking the skillet occasionally, for 2 to 3 minutes, or until they are just cooked through. Let the scallops cool in a bowl, covered loosely.
• In a small bowl combine the saffron with 2 teaspoons hot water. In a blender or food processor blend together the egg, the lemon, juice, the mustard, the salt, and the pepper, with the motor running add the remaining 1 cup oil in a slow stream, and blend the mayonnaise until it is emulsified. Stir in the saffron mixture and salt to taste. Dip each scallop round, patted dry, into the saffron mayonnaise, coating it well, arrange it on a lettuce leaf, and garnish each hors d'oeuvre with some of the carrot and chives. (Any remaining saffron mayonnaise may be used as a dipping sauce for vegetables.)

GARLIC AND SAFFRON MAYONNAISE (ROUILLE)

Steps:

• 1. Finely chop the garlic. Sprinkle a pinch of salt over the garlic and continue chopping and smashing it with the side of your knife to form a coarse paste. Transfer the paste to a medium mixing bowl.
• 2. Add the egg yolk, lemon juice, saffron and its soaking water, breadcrumbs, and a pinch of cayenne and black peppers. Whisk to combine the ingredients. Continue whisking constantly while drizzling the olive oil into the bowl in a slow, steady stream. When all of the oil is included, the mixture should have a consistency similar to that of mayonnaise. Serve the rouille or store it in the refrigerator, covered or jarred, for future use.

SAFFRON MAYONNAISE

Steps:

• Bring water and saffron just to boil in heavy small saucepan. Remove from heat. Stir and let steep 15 minutes to release saffron color and flavor.
• Whisk mayonnaise, lemon juice and garlic to blend in small bowl. Gradually whisk in saffron water. Cover and store in refrigerator.

SAFFRON MAYONNAISE

Steps:

• Process egg, mustard, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a food processor until pale and foamy, about 1 1/2 minutes. Combine oils; with machine running, add oil, drop by drop, through feed tube until mixture begins to thicken (about 1/4 cup oil; do not stop the machine). Add remaining oil in a slow, steady stream, processing until incorporated. Gradually add 1 tablespoon lemon juice.
• Grind saffron with a mortar and pestle. Transfer to a bowl. Add 1 teaspoon lemon juice; let stand until liquid turns yellow, 5 minutes. Strain; discard threads.
• Put mayonnaise into a small bowl; drizzle in saffron liquid, stirring. Season with salt, if desired. Cover; refrigerate until ready to serve, or overnight.

SAFFRON MAYONNAISE

Steps:

• Bring water and saffron just to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove from heat. Stir, then let steep, uncovered, 10 minutes, to release saffron color and flavor.
• Whisk together mayonnaise, sherry vinegar, and garlic in a bowl. Gradually whisk in saffron water.