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Bright yellow rice garnished with toasted pine nuts on a black oval platter on a blue tile background.
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30-Min Fluffy Saffron Rice (Basmati)

Yield: 4 Servings
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Author: Amina Al-Saigh
This fragrant saffron rice is quick, easy and comes together in 25 minutes. The result is golden yellow fluffy rice that's fragrant and perfect to pair with your favourite protein.
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Ingredients
 

  • 1/4 teaspoon saffron strands
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
  • 4 cardamom pods
  • 1 cinnamon stick, optional
  • 2 cups long grain basmati rice, washed until water runs clear and drained
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 3 cups chicken broth or water

Instructions
 

  • Start by crushing the saffron strands in a mortar and pestle. Then, soak the crushed saffron with 1/4 cup hot water for 5 minutes.
  • In a 2-inch deep skillet or a medium non-stick pot, heat the olive oil on medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the finely diced onions and cook for 4 to 5 minutes until soft and translucent. Do not over brown the onions. Then add the cardamom pods and cinnamon stick and stir.
  • Add the washed basmati rice, the salt, pepper, saffron water and the chicken broth. Gently stir to combine. Bring to a boil on medium heat. Once the rice is bubbling vigorously, cover with a tight fitting lid and reduce the heat to low. Cook for 20 minutes, undisturbed.
  • Open the lid and fluff the rice with a fork. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving. Optional: garnish with toasted almonds or pine nuts and chopped parsley.

Notes

  • This recipe is for long grain basmati rice. Using medium or short grain rice warrants a different rice to water ratio. Check this Egyptian rice recipe for the exact soaking process and water ratio for medium grain rice.
  • Use high quality saffron to get a vibrant yellow colour and the desired fragrance. Some lower quality saffron do not actually leave a yellow colour (trust me - I've tried them before!). 
Serving: 1Serving, Calories: 477kcal, Carbohydrates: 78g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 15g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 10g, Sodium: 887mg, Potassium: 160mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 4IU, Vitamin C: 2mg, Calcium: 53mg, Iron: 1mg
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