Saffron Rice | Yellow Rice (Indian Style)
Saffron Rice, also known as Yellow Rice, is a highly aromatic and richly flavorful accompaniment that complements a wide range of curries or lentil dishes. Its taste carries subtle earthy and spiced notes, avoiding excessive boldness or spiciness.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons Ghee or oil
- 1 teaspoon caraway seeds (shahi jeera)
- 2 to 3 green cardamoms
- 1 tej patta (indian bay leaf)
- 1.5 inches cinnamon
- 2 to 3 cloves
- 1 single, thin strand of mace
- 1.5 cups basmati rice
- 2 to 3 generous pinches saffron (kesar), not a chef's pinch but a pinch of the thumb and index finger
- 1 pinch turmeric – optional
- 3 to 3.25 cups water or as required
- salt as required
- 2 to 3 tablespoons coriander leaves – chopped, or mint leaves for garnish – optional
Instructions
Prepping And Soaking Rice
- Rinse the rice for 3 to 4 times in water or till the water runs clear of starch.
- Soak the rice for 20 to 30 mins in water. Drain the water and keep the rice aside.
- Gather all the ingredients, measure and set them aside.
- Crush the saffron strands with your fingers or in a mortar-pestle. Set aside.
Making Saffron Rice
- Heat oil or ghee in a deep pan or pot. Lower the heat. Add all the whole spices – caraway seeds, green cardamoms, cinnamon, cloves, tej patta and mace strand.
- Fry for some seconds until the spices crackle taking care they do not burn.
- Then add the soaked rice. Mix and stir gently for 1 to 2 minutes so that the fat coats the rice grains.
- Add the crushed saffron strands to the rice.
- Add turmeric powder now if you plan to add it. Mix gently.
- Pour water and season with salt according to taste. Taste the water and it should be slightly salty.
- Cover the pan tightly and let the rice cook till the grains become separately cooked and absorb all the water.
- Do check the rice for a couple of times when it is cooking.If it looks like the water is simmering off too quickly, and more water 1 tablespoon at a time. Once done, fluff gently with a fork.
- Serve the Saffron Rice garnished with coriander or mint leaves with any lentil or vegetable curry of your choice.
Nutrition
Calories: 481kcalCarbohydrates: 76gProtein: 7gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 38mgSodium: 407mgPotassium: 149mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 30IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 51mgIron: 1mg
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