Saffron Basmati Rice Recipe with Dill is aromatic, pretty and utterly delicious. This a fantastic compliment to almost anything . . . meats, fish, vegetables, you name it! And it will brighten the table with its stunning, vibrant color.
Saffron.
It’s red, it’s gold, it’s oh so beautiful.
It’s profoundly delicious.
What is Saffron?
- It’s the most expensive spice in the world. In the world! And for very good reasons.
- Saffron threads are the stamens of the Crocus flower, which is native to the Mediterranean and western Asia. (The stamen is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower.)
- The Crocus flower is a very high-maintenance flower that only blooms for one week of the year and only produces about three stamens each.
- The stamens must be very carefully hand picked, and it takes about 80,000 flowers to produce 1-pound of saffron!
- When the stunning red threads are hit with liquid, they immediately turn a deep, rich golden color.
- The intense gold color, is said to be an indication that the saffron has medicinal qualities, like powerful antioxidants that can protect the body.
Saffron Basmati Rice brightens any plate with it’s color and flavor.
What Does Saffron Taste Like?
- The flavor of saffron can be described as floral, buttery and earthy.
- A little will go a long way to color and flavor a dish it’s added to.
Remember when we made Spicy Turmeric-Coconut Rice? The color of the turmeric is similar to that of the saffron — though the flavor is quite different. Try them both for fun.
What to serve with Saffron Basmati Rice:
- Saffron Orange Whitefish with Tomato Basil Salsa
- Skillet Sweet Potato Braised Chicken
- Garlicky Coconut Gai Lan
- Light Spring and Summer Fish Stew
- Baked Mango Coconut Chicken
Here is the saffron I’ve been using — it’s from Spain. And here’s a great article on the colorful History of Saffron.
I hop you enjoy this oh-so-beautiful and delicious Saffron Basmati Rice recipe!
Aromatic, pretty and utterly delicious, this Saffron Basmati Rice Recipe with Fresh Dill is a fantastic compliment to almost anything . . . meats, fish, vegetables, you name it!
- 1 pinch saffron threads
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup basmati rice
- 1 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 cup fresh dill, washed and dried, roughly chopped
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Add the pinch of saffron threads to a mortar. Use the pestle to grind the spice until it's a powder. This should only take a few seconds, and will yield less than 1/8 teaspoon, which is all you need.
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Add about 2 tablespoons of the water to the mortar and then pour this, along with the remaining water into a medium-sized soup pot. Bring it to a very gentle simmer and then turn off the heat. Let it steep for at least 15 minutes.
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Now pour the rice into a fine mesh strainer and rinse it thoroughly, and then add it to the pot, along with the salt and olive oil.
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Gently stir and then bring to a boil. Immediately turn the heat to low, cover the pot, and cook just until all of the liquid has been absorbed, about 15 minutes.
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Fold in the dill and serve.
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David says
Such beautiful color – and flavor! This will go beautifully with my Persian-spiced fish (NYTimes)!
valentina says
Thanks, David. I hadn’t worked with saffron in a while and now I can’t stop! More to come. Enjoy & happy weekend. 🙂
Dini @ The Flavor Bender says
Saffron is such a beautiful spice!! This Basmati rice looks phenomenal – the color looks incredible! 🙂
valentina says
Thank you! I agree – a beautiful spice, indeed. 🙂
Sara | Life's Little Sweets says
I love these flavors together and Basmati rice is my favorite rice varieties, thank you for sharing this delicious way to make rice that I haven’t tried before.
valentina says
Thank you so much, Sara. I hope you try it and enjoy! 🙂
Beth says
I adore saffron! It has the most unique flavor! Now I think I have some for dinner!
valentina says
I love it, Beth. Thanks!
Catherine says
One of the most elegant and exotic rice dishes I’ve seen. The saffron is a beautiful touch and I love the fresh dill. This is wonderful. xo, Catherine
valentina says
Many thanks, Catherine! 🙂
rahul says
Basmati rice with saffron is the most wonderful combination and considered as the elegant dish and a big thanks to valentina for posting the recipe.I know a agro products supplier company shimla hills who is one of largest supplier of basmati rice in india and the quality they maintain in there products is remarkable.