Servings
Font
Back
4.9 from 384 votes

Saffron Rice

Learn to make perfectly fluffy Saffron Rice, a beautiful and savory side dish with saffron spice, onions and broth. Gluten free, Kosher

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
50 mins
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 159 kcal
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Middle Eastern

Ingredients

  • 1/4 teaspoon good quality saffron threads
  • 1/4 cup hot water
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 3/4 cup minced yellow onion
  • 2 cups white Basmati rice
  • 3 cups chicken stock or vegetable stock (if using vegetable stock, choose a golden colored stock such as "no chicken" broth)
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt (if using a low sodium stock, adjust salt to 1 tsp)

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Take 1/8 tsp saffron threads and put them in a spice mortar. Grind the spice with a pestle to a powdery consistency.Add the other 1/8 tsp saffron threads to the mortar. Do not crush these remaining threads.
  2. Pour 1/4 cup of hot water into the mortar. Let all of the saffron soak for 5 minutes. This will open up the flavor of the spice.
  3. Meanwhile, sort your basmati rice and rinse in a colander. Drain.In a large heavy pot, heat extra virgin olive oil over medium. Add the minced onion to the pot and sauté for about 10 minutes, stirring very frequently, until the onion is very soft and begins to caramelize.
  4. Add rinsed rice to the pot and sauté for one minute longer, mixing the rice together with the cooked onion.
  5. Pour the yellow soaked saffron liquid evenly across the top of the rice.
  6. Add chicken or vegetable stock and salt to the pot. Bring to a boil, stir. Bring back to a boil for 30 seconds.
  7. Cover the pot and reduce heat to low. Let the rice cook for 20 minutes. Turn off the heat, but keep pot covered, and continue to let the rice sit and steam in the covered pot for 10 minutes longer.
  8. Fluff the rice with a fork before serving, stirring well to break up the rice and incorporate the cooked onion.

Notes

  • Serving size: 1/2 cup. Recipe makes about 6 cups of cooked rice. 
  • Nutrition calculated using chicken stock and 3/4 tsp salt.
  • Note: it's important to use a good quality saffron for this recipe. There are several types of "faux safrron" on the market which are inexpensive, but flavorless. True saffron is very pricey, but you only need a little to add a lot of flavor.
  • Note
  • : it's important to use a good quality saffron for this recipe. There are several types of "faux safrron" on the market which are inexpensive, but flavorless. True saffron is very pricey, but you only need a little to add a lot of flavor.

Nutrition Information

Calories 159kcal (8%) Carbohydrates 28g (9%) Protein 4g (8%) Fat 3g (5%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Cholesterol 2mg (1%) Sodium 233mg (10%) Potassium 113mg (3%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 1g (2%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 13mg (1%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 159

% Daily Value*

Calories 159kcal 8%
Carbohydrates 28g 9%
Protein 4g 8%
Fat 3g 5%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 2mg 1%
Sodium 233mg 10%
Potassium 113mg 2%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 1g 2%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 13mg 1%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.