Saffron Recipes
Saffron Recipes
Authentic Dishes from Afghanistan & Around the World
Main Dishes
Qabuli Pulao – National Dish of Afghanistan
Ingredients: 3 cups basmati rice, 20–25 saffron threads, 1 kg lamb or chicken, 2 carrots (julienned), ½ cup raisins, ¼ cup almonds, onion, oil, salt, cardamom, cumin.
- Bloom saffron in 3 tbsp warm water for 15 minutes.
- Brown meat with onions and spices until golden.
- Add water and simmer until meat is tender (45–60 min).
- Sauté carrots and raisins separately until soft.
- Cook rice in meat broth, add saffron water.
- Layer meat, carrots, raisins, and almonds over rice. Steam 20 min.
Spanish Paella Valenciana
Ingredients: 2.5 cups short-grain rice, 15–20 saffron threads, mixed seafood, chicken, red peppers, green beans, tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, paprika, 5 cups stock.
- Bloom saffron in warm stock for 10 minutes.
- Sauté chicken until golden, set aside.
- Cook peppers, beans, tomatoes, and garlic in same pan.
- Add rice, stir to coat with oil.
- Pour in saffron stock, add chicken and seafood.
- Cook on medium heat without stirring until rice absorbs liquid.
- Rest 5 minutes before serving.
Italian Risotto alla Milanese
Ingredients: 1.5 cups Arborio rice, 12–15 saffron threads, 5 cups warm stock, ½ cup white wine, 1 onion, 3 tbsp butter, ½ cup Parmesan, salt.
- Bloom saffron in ¼ cup warm stock.
- Sauté onion in butter until translucent.
- Add rice, toast 2 minutes.
- Add wine, stir until absorbed.
- Add stock ladle by ladle, stirring constantly.
- Add saffron liquid halfway through cooking.
- Finish with butter and Parmesan. Rest 2 minutes.
- Serve immediately.
Desserts & Beverages
Saffron Ice Cream
- Bloom 10 threads in warm cream
- Mix into ice cream base
- Churn and freeze
Saffron Rice Pudding
- Cook rice in milk with sugar
- Add bloomed saffron
- Garnish with pistachios
Saffron Tea
- 4–5 threads per cup
- Steep in hot water 5 min
- Add honey to taste
Saffron Milk (Kesar Doodh)
- Warm milk, add 5–6 threads
- Steep 10 minutes
- Sweeten with honey or sugar