For today, I have this aromatic and flavourful Persian Saffron Rice. It is an easy dish to make and a lovely replacement for jeera rice or peas pulao. All you need are saffron, some spices and onions. Sounds yum, right?
Before moving on to the recipe, I have to share this. As we stepped into the restaurant today, we took a table at the corner. Guess what picture was hanging on the wall?
Amazing, no? I have seen many restaurants with pictures of beautiful bread but never one with a starter. I was so thrilled to see it. The husband saw it and shook his head saying now you will want to bake a loaf instantly. Of course no hotel is going to provide me with an oven and so I will have to wait till the weekend to do that. Back to the saffron rice now –
Serves 1-2
WHAT WE NEED
1/2 cup Basmati Rice
1 tsp Oil / Ghee
2-3 Cloves
1″ Cinnamom stick
1 Star Anise
1 cup Vegetable stock
2-3 Saffron strands
2 tsp milk
Fresh coriander to garnish
Fried onions to garnish
Salt
WHAT TO DO
- Soak basmati rice for 15 minutes
- Drain and keep it aside
- Add the saffron strands to the milk. If you don’t want to use milk, add saffron strands to warm water
- Heat a pan and add ghee or oil
- Add the cloves, cinnamon and star anise
- Fry for 1-2 minutes on low heat
- Add the rice, salt and vegetable stock
- Add the saffron and milk / water and mix well
- Cover and cook till the rice is fully cooked
- Add water, if needed to cook the rice completely
- Take off the heat and garnish with fresh chopped coriander and fried onions
- Serve with any vegetable or paneer curry of your choice

This is my post for the Biryani / Pulao / Khichadi festival for the alphabet ‘P’
Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#99
Bread Therapy 
Saffron is a aromatic and exotic condiment which takes any dish to a different level and this rice is no exception . The rice looks fantastic specially with onions . I am sure I can enjoy them even without a curry .
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Saffron and onion both elevate the flavor of the dish. This seems like to go great on it’s own.
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Such a pleasant and mildly spiced rose..love it witu all d flavours.
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It is surely a surprise to see the starter photo in a restaurant. Only those are crazy about baking bread would understand. The rice cooked in veg broth and saffron would have a nice flavour to it.
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Wow! that is a very simple and elegant dish, Sowmya. Saffron definitely elevates the flavor profile.
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Such s simple yet flavorful rice dish. Saffron gives lovely color and flavor to any dish
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The rice surely sounds like an excellent one to make. And yes a picture of the starter is rare to find, good one!
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Such a simple yet amazing dish. As you mentioned it is a great replacement for jeera pulao. Love it. That’s one great picture of starter dough.
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I so wanted to make this but skipped it. Your version looks amazing and would go so well in our parties or potlucks as it would be a different taste
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So simple and yet so flavourful.. Onions and saffron together are a very different combination, but the rice looks so perfect, will love to try this.
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So simple and yest so flavourful. Onions and saffron are very flavourful but different combinations, I am sure these nuts have added a nice aroma to the plain rice dish.
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