Best 8 Basmati Rice With Cinnamon Saffron Recipes

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image

**Explore the Fragrant Delights of Basmati Rice with Cinnamon and Saffron: A Culinary Journey Through Persia and Beyond**

Embark on a tantalizing culinary journey as we delve into the aromatic world of basmati rice, delicately infused with the warm embrace of cinnamon and the golden allure of saffron. This exquisite dish, hailing from the rich culinary traditions of Persia and extending its reach across borders, promises an explosion of flavors and an unforgettable sensory experience. Discover the secrets behind this delectable creation, with our collection of carefully curated recipes that cater to diverse dietary preferences. From the classic Persian-style preparation to vegan and gluten-free variations, each recipe unveils a unique interpretation of this timeless classic. Whether you seek a comforting weeknight meal or an impressive centerpiece for special occasions, our comprehensive guide will equip you with the knowledge and inspiration to create this aromatic masterpiece in your own kitchen.

Here are our top 8 tried and tested recipes!

SAFFRON BASMATI RICE



Saffron Basmati Rice image

Provided by Sunny Anderson

Categories     side-dish

Time 30m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 cups basmati rice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 clove garlic, smashed
3 to 4 threads saffron
Pinch of cayenne pepper
3 to 3 1/2 cups chicken stock
1/4 cup almond slivers, toasted
1 teaspoon lemon zest
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

  • Rinse the rice in a colander under cold water until it runs clear, picking out any little pieces of grit or debris. Shake off the excess water. Heat a pot over medium heat, and then add the rice, oil, garlic, saffron and cayenne pepper. Stir and toast the rice until the cayenne and saffron are fragrant, about 4 minutes. Shake the pot to level out the rice, and then add the chicken stock to fill about 1/2-inch over the rice. Bring to a boil, and then lower to a simmer and cover to cook for 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and let the rice stand another 5 minutes, covered. Fluff with a fork. Stir in the almond slivers and lemon zest, season with salt and pepper and serve.

SAFFRON RICE



Saffron Rice image

This simple saffron rice recipe is infused with saffron flavor and is the perfect elegant side dish that pairs well with Middle Eastern and Spanish flavors. Cook it on the stove top or in a rice cooker.

Provided by Denise Bustard

Categories     Side Dish

Time 25m

Number Of Ingredients 7

1/4 cup boiling water (see note 1)
pinch saffron threads ((roughly 1/8 tsp))
1 cup basmati rice (rinsed)
1 tablespoon refined coconut oil (or butter)
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cup stock ((veggie or chicken))

Steps:

  • Combine saffron threads and boiling water and allow to 'steep' for at least 5 minutes.
  • In a medium pot, combine saffron + boiling water with the basmati rice and all other ingredients.
  • Cover and bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer (covered) for 15 minutes.
  • Remove from heat and let sit for another 10 minutes before serving.
  • Combine saffron threads and boiling water and allow to 'steep' for at least 5 minutes.
  • Combine saffron + boiled water with the basmati rice and all other ingredients.
  • Cook using the 'white rice' function (or regular function if there is not a white rice option).
  • Once the cook time is up, fluff with a fork and serve.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 /4 of the batch, Calories 204 kcal, Carbohydrate 38 g, Protein 3 g, Fat 3 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, Sodium 559 mg

BASMATI RICE WITH SAFFRON (ZAFFRANI PULAO)



Basmati Rice with Saffron (Zaffrani Pulao) image

Basmati, the royal rice, finds an ideal partner in saffron, the world's most expensive spice.

Provided by Betty Crocker Kitchens

Categories     Side Dish

Time 1h51m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 cup uncooked basmati or regular long-grain rice
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 cup raw whole cashews
1/4 cup golden raisins
1 teaspoon cumin seed
1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
5 cardamom pods
6 whole cloves
2 bay leaves
2 three-inch cinnamon sticks
2 medium red onions, cut in half and thinly sliced
1 1/2 cups cold water
1/2 teaspoon saffron threads
1 teaspoon salt

Steps:

  • Place rice in medium bowl; add enough cold water to cover rice. Rub rice gently between fingers; drain. Repeat 4 or 5 times until water is clear; drain. Cover rice with cold water; soak 30 minutes. Drain; set aside.
  • Heat oil in 2-quart saucepan over medium-high heat. Add cashews; stir-fry 10 to 20 seconds or until cashews are golden brown. Remove with slotted spoon; drain on paper towels.
  • Add raisins to hot oil; stir-fry 20 to 30 seconds or until raisins plump up. Remove with slotted spoon; add to cashews to drain.
  • Add cumin seed, peppercorns, cardamom pods, cloves, bay leaves and cinnamon sticks to hot oil; sizzle 15 to 30 seconds. Mix in onions; stir-fry 3 to 4 minutes or until onions are golden brown.
  • Add rice; gently stir-fry 1 minute, taking care not to break tender rice grains. Stir in 1 1/2 cups cold water, the saffron and salt. Heat to boiling, stirring once; reduce heat to medium-high. Cook uncovered 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until almost all the water has evaporated.
  • Reduce heat to low. Cover and cook 5 minutes; remove from heat. Let rice stand covered 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Fluff rice with fork or spoon to release steam. Serve sprinkled with roasted cashews and raisins. Serve with peppercorns, cardamom pods, cloves, bay leaves and cinnamon sticks left in to continue to flavor the rice, but do not eat them.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 215, Carbohydrate 34 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Fat 1, Fiber 2 g, Protein 4 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 400 mg

BASMATI RICE WITH SAFFRON



Basmati Rice with Saffron image

Saffron, the world's most expensive spice, finds an ideal partner in basmati, the royal rice.

Provided by By Betty Crocker Kitchens

Categories     Side Dish

Time 45m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 cup uncooked basmati or regular long-grain white rice
2 tablespoons canola or soybean oil
1/4 cup raw whole cashews
1/4 cup golden raisins
1 teaspoon cumin seed
1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
5 cardamom pods
6 whole cloves
2 dried bay leaves
2 sticks (3 inch) cinnamon
2 medium red onions, cut in half and thinly sliced
1 1/2 cups cold water
1/2 teaspoon saffron threads
1 teaspoon salt

Steps:

  • Place rice in medium bowl; add enough cold water to cover rice. Rub rice gently between fingers; drain. Repeat 4 or 5 times until water is clear; drain. Cover rice with cold water; soak 30 minutes. Drain; set aside.
  • In 2-quart saucepan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add cashews; stir-fry 10 to 20 seconds or until cashews are golden brown. Remove with slotted spoon; drain on paper towels.
  • Add raisins to hot oil; stir-fry 20 to 30 seconds or until raisins plump up. Remove with slotted spoon; add to cashews to drain.
  • Add cumin seed, peppercorns, cardamom pods, cloves, bay leaves and cinnamon sticks to hot oil; sizzle 15 to 30 seconds. Mix in onions; stir-fry 3 to 4 minutes or until onions are golden brown.
  • Add rice; gently stir-fry 1 minute, taking care not to break tender rice grains. Stir in 1 1/2 cups cold water, the saffron and salt. Heat to boiling, stirring once; reduce heat to medium-high. Cook uncovered 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until almost all the water has evaporated.
  • Reduce heat to low. Cover; cook 5 minutes; remove from heat. Let rice stand covered 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Fluff rice with fork or spoon to release steam. Serve sprinkled with roasted cashews and raisins. Serve with peppercorns, cardamom pods, cloves, bay leaves and cinnamon sticks left in to continue to flavor the rice, but do not eat them.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 220, Carbohydrate 35 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Fat 1 1/2, Fiber 2 g, Protein 3 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 400 mg, Sugar 5 g, TransFat 0 g

SAFFRON RICE PILAF



Saffron Rice Pilaf image

The color yellow symbolized joy for medieval Arabs, who were cultivating saffron in Spain by 960 c.e. Sephardic Jews were equally inspired by the coveted spice, and golden rice became a holiday and Sabbath tradition. This version, made with basmati rice, is punctuated by caramelized onion, currants, and fried almonds.

Provided by Melissa Roberts

Categories     Onion     Side     Fry     Vegetarian     Dried Fruit     Almond     Saffron     Kosher     Vegan     Potluck     Gourmet     Pescatarian     Dairy Free     Wheat/Gluten-Free     Peanut Free     Soy Free     No Sugar Added

Yield Makes 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 8

3/4 teaspoon crumbled saffron threads
2 tablespoons boiling-hot water
1/3 cup olive oil
1 cup slivered almonds (4 ounces)
1 very large onion, chopped (3 to 4 cups)
3 cups white basmati rice (19 ounces)
4 1/2 cups water
1 cup dried currants (4 ounces)

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.

BASMATI RICE



Basmati Rice image

Simple basmati rice, like in the restaurants!

Provided by Kristine Weatherly

Categories     Side Dish     Rice Side Dish Recipes

Time 20m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 4

1 ¾ cups water
1 cup basmati rice
¼ cup frozen green peas
1 teaspoon cumin seeds

Steps:

  • In a saucepan bring water to a boil. Add rice and stir. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
  • When rice is cooked, stir in peas and cumin. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 174.5 calories, Carbohydrate 38.3 g, Fat 0.7 g, Fiber 0.8 g, Protein 4.1 g, SaturatedFat 0.2 g, Sodium 14.6 mg, Sugar 0.6 g

CINNAMON BASMATI RICE WITH GOLDEN RAISINS



Cinnamon Basmati Rice with Golden Raisins image

Basmati rice has a sweet, nutty flavor; in Hindi, the word basmati means "queen of fragrance."

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Ingredients     Pasta and Grains     Rice Recipes

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 medium yellow onion, cut into 1/4-inch dice
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup uncooked basmati rice
1 whole bay leaf
1 cinnamon stick
2/3 cup golden raisins
2 cups water
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Steps:

  • Melt butter in a medium high-sided saucepan set over medium heat. Add onion, cloves, and cinnamon; cook until onion becomes translucent and mixture is very fragrant.
  • Place rice in sieve, and rinse under cold running water. Add rice to saucepan, and stir so grains are coated in butter mixture.
  • Add bay leaf, cinnamon stick, raisins, salt, and pepper to saucepan. Stir in 2 cups water. Raise heat, and bring to a boil. Cover, and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook until all water has been absorbed and rice has cooked, 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Remove pan from heat, and let stand, covered, 5 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper, and serve.

SAFFRON-CARDAMOM RICE



Saffron-Cardamom Rice image

A colorful, aromatic rice that is good with the Spicy Lamb Stew with Apricots and Cardamom, or with broiled chicken, fish or vegetables.

Categories     Nut     Onion     Rice     Side     Vegetarian     Raisin     Pine Nut     Saffron     Winter     Bon Appétit

Yield Serves 4

Number Of Ingredients 11

3 teaspoons butter
1/4 cup pine nuts
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1 cup basmati rice*
1 1/2 cups water
2 tablespoons golden raisins
1 teaspoon sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon crumbled saffron threads
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
*Basmati rice is available at Indian markets and some supermarkets.

Steps:

  • Melt 1 teaspoon butter in small skillet over medium heat. Add pine nuts; sauté until golden, about 5 minutes. Cool.
  • Melt remaining 2 teaspoons butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Add rice and stir 2 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups water, raisins, sugar, salt, saffron and cardamom. Bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until rice is tender, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat; let stand covered 10 minutes. Stir in pine nuts.

Tips:

  • To achieve the best results, make sure to use high-quality basmati rice. Look for grains that are long, slender, and slightly fragrant.
  • Before cooking, rinse the rice thoroughly in cold water to remove any starch and impurities. This will help the rice cook evenly and prevent it from becoming sticky.
  • Use a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven to cook the rice. This will help distribute the heat evenly and prevent the rice from burning.
  • Add a pinch of salt to the water when cooking the rice. This will help enhance the flavor of the rice.
  • Once the rice is cooked, fluff it with a fork to separate the grains and make it light and airy.

Conclusion:

Basmati rice with cinnamon and saffron is a delicious and aromatic dish that can be enjoyed on its own or served with a variety of dishes. It is a popular choice for special occasions, but it is also easy enough to make for a weeknight meal. With its nutty flavor and delicate fragrance, basmati rice with cinnamon and saffron is sure to please everyone at the table.

Related Topics