Spanish Saffron Rice With Raisins Pine Nuts Recipes

SAFFRON RICE WITH GOLDEN RAISINS AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Soak the rice in tepid water for 10 minutes; drain. While the rice is soaking, put half a kettle of water on to boil.
• Add the oil to a medium, thick-bottomed lidded saucepan over medium heat. Add the pine nuts and cook until golden brown, about 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Transfer the pine nuts to a small bowl and set aside.
• Add the onion to the saucepan you cooked the pine nuts in, and cook until softened and just starting to brown, about 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the rice and cook 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in the sultanas, boiling water, salt, and saffron (or turmeric), turn the heat up to high, and bring it to a rolling boil.
• Give the rice a stir, then cover the saucepan, turn the heat down to very low, and cook until tender, about 10 minutes (do not open the lid during this time). Turn the heat off and let the rice sit (covered) 15 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
• Transfer to a serving dish and sprinkle the toasted pine nuts on top; serve.
• Optional: Add two pods of cardamom, two whole cloves, and one 2-inch (5 cm) piece of cinnamon stick at the same time that you add the rice.

SPANISH SAFFRON RICE WITH RAISINS & PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Add 1/2 cup of raisins into a bowl, cover the raisins with hot water and set aside, this will help soften the raisins
• Heat a nonstick fry pan with a medium heat and add a 1/4 cup of pine nuts, mix them around continuously so they all cook evenly and they don´t burn, after toasting them for 4 to 5 minutes remove them from the pan and set aside
• Heat a sauce pan with a medium-high heat and add 2 1/4 cups of cold water, pinch in 1/2 tsp of saffron threads and a generous pinch of sea salt
• Using the same nonstick fry pan heat it with a medium-high heat and add 2 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil, after 2 minutes add 1/2 an onion that has been finely diced and 3 cloves of garlic that have been finely minced, mix with the oil and cook for 3 minutes
• After cooking the onions and garlic for 3 minutes add 1 cup of round rice into the pan, the raisins in the bowl (drain the water before adding), the toasted pine nuts and season everything with sea salt & freshly cracked black pepper, mix together until well combined
• At this point your saffron infused water should be boiling, add it into the fry pan with the rice, give it a gentle mix so everything is well distributed, after 6 minutes place a lid on the pan and lower the fire to a low-medium heat, after simmering for 4 minutes and there is almost no broth left, remove from the heat and set aside with the lid on, after 5 minutes remove the lid and top off the rice with some freshly chopped chives, enjoy!

CHICKEN WITH SAFFRON, RAISINS & PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Heat a large frying pan on a high heat and season the chicken. Add the olive oil to the pan, then the chicken. Brown for about 5 mins on each side, remove onto a plate, then set aside.
• Lower the heat to medium. In the remaining fat, fry the onions for 3 mins, then add the garlic and saffron. Cook for 3-4 mins more. Add the sherry, then simmer for 3-5 mins until syrupy.
• Put the chicken leg pieces back into the pan, tip in the stock, thyme and raisins, cover, then gently cook on a low heat for 20 mins. Add the breast meat and any juices left on the plate. Simmer for 10 mins more until cooked through and the sauce in the pan has reduced.
• While the chicken is cooking, heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Scatter the pine nuts over a baking sheet, then roast for 10 mins until golden and toasted. Once the chicken has cooked through, season to taste, scatter with pine nuts and parsley, then serve with rice.