Saffron Rice With Currants Recipes

SAFFRON RICE

Steps:

• Heat 3 tablespoons butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add 1 finely chopped onion and cook, stirring, until softened, 4 minutes. Stir in 2 cups basmati rice, 2 teaspoons kosher salt and 1/2 teaspoon saffron threads. Add 1 1/2 cups each water and low-sodium chicken broth. Bring to a simmer, reduce the heat to low, cover and cook until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed, 15 minutes. Let sit, covered, 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork. Stir in 1/4 cup chopped cilantro and 2 sliced scallions.

SAFFRON RICE WITH CURRANTS

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, over medium-high heat, combine broth, rice, salt, and saffron.
• Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in currants. Cover and let stand 5 to 7 minutes until liquid is absorbed. Fluff with fork to distribute saffron and currants. Serve hot.

SAFFRON RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Soften saffron in hot water (2 tablespoons) in a small bowl.
• Heat oil in a 5-quart heavy pot over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Fry almonds, stirring frequently, until golden, about 3 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain.
• Fry onion in oil remaining in pot, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer half of onion to a bowl.
• Add rice to onion in pot and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add water (4 1/2 cups), saffron mixture, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and cook, covered, until water is absorbed and rice is tender, 18 to 20 minutes. Let rice stand, covered, off heat 5 minutes.
• While rice stands, stir almonds and currants into bowl with onion.
• Fluff rice with a fork and serve with almond mixture spooned on top.

A MODERN VERSION OF AN ANCIENT PAELLA: SAFFRON RICE WITH CHICKEN, SHRIMP, STRINGBEANS, AND SNAILS

Steps:

• Butterfly each shrimp by cutting along the back, through the shell, to remove the black vein. Rinse, then spread each shrimp wide open, leaving the shell on. Sprinkle with salt and the freshly ground black pepper. Set aside for 1/2 hour. In a large, heavy pan, with a tight-fitting lid - preferably a large wok - heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Season the chicken thighs well with salt and pepper, then add them to the hot oil, skin-side down. Cook for 2 minutes, or until the skin just begins to brown. Add the chorizo slices, and toss them with the chicken. Cook for 1 minute. Add the shallots, garlic and string beans. Mix well. Add the rice and half of the parsley, stirring to coat the rice thoroughly with oil. Add the chicken stock, saffron and paprika. Stir well. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Lift the cover, embed the shrimp in the top part of the rice, then scatter the snails around the shrimp. If you are using the red pepper, cut it into 8 strips and arrange it in the rice in a decorative pattern. Cover, and cook for 10 minutes more, or until almost all the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is just cooked. Serve at the table out of the cooking vessel, sprinkling the portions with the remaining parsley.

SAFFRON RICE WITH CURRANTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
• Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in the top part of a double boiler placed directly on the stovetop over medium-high heat. Add onion. Cook, stirring, until onion is wilted. Add rice and cook, stirring, for about 30 seconds. Add all remaining ingredients except the remaining butter and bring to a boil.
• Cover and place in the oven. Cook exactly 20 minutes. Remove and discard the bay leaf. Fluff the rice with a fork and stir in the remaining butter. Cover.
• Assemble the double boiler; that is, place the pot containing the rice over simmering water in the bottom half of the double boiler and let stand until ready to serve.

SAFFRON RICE PILAF WITH APRICOTS AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• Melt butter in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Add chopped onion, ground saffron and cloves and saut&5 minutes. Add rice and stir to coat grains. Mix in chicken stock, dried apricots and currants. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low. Cover and cook until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Fluff rice with fork. Add slivered almonds and season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to bowl and serve.

RICE WITH CURRANTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a heavy saucepan with tight-fitting lid and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until onion is wilted. Add the rice and cook, stirring, about 30 seconds. Add all the remaining ingredients except the 1 tablespoon butter and bring to a boil.
• Cover and place in the oven. Cook exactly 17 minutes. Uncover and stir. Discard the bay leaf. Fluff rice with a fork and stir in the remaining butter.

SAFFRON RICE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Heat one tablespoon butter in a heavy saucepan with a tightfitting lid. Add the garlic and onion and cook, stirring, until the onion is wilted. Add the saffron, bay leaf and rice and cook, stirring, about 30 seconds.
• Add the chicken broth and salt. Bring to a good boil.
• Cover and place the saucepan in the oven. Bake exactly 17 minutes. Remove from the oven and keep covered until ready to serve. When ready to serve, discard the bay leaf. Fluff the rice with a fork and stir in the remaining butter.

MINTED SAFFRON RICE WITH CURRANTS AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• In a large heavy saucepan heat oil over moderate heat until hot but not smoking and cook cuminseed, cinnamon stick, and bay leaf, stirring, until mixture is fragrant and cuminseed is several shades darker (be careful not to burn it).
• Add onion and cook, stirring, until softened. Add rice and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add water, currants, saffron, and salt and bring to a boil, covered. Reduce heat to very low and simmer rice, covered, 20 minutes, or until liquid is absorbed.
• Let rice stand 5 minutes. Discard cinnamon stick and bay leaf and stir in pine nuts and mint.

SAFFRON RICE WITH CURRANTS AND SNOW PEAS

Steps:

• Soak currants in wine until needed.
• In a heavy medium saucepan, melt butter and stir in rice; cook over medium low heat, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Bring broth to a boil with saffron. Pour over rice; stir in basil, salt and pepper to taste. Simmer, covered, until all liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Stir in currants and wine. Spread on a large platter and arrange quail on top.
• Steam or stir fry snow peas and place around edge or at ends of platter. Makes 6 to 8 servings.
• Canadian Living the Merry Christmas Cookbook Special.