Consomee

Saffron Rice

⏱ ~60 min (est.)MediumChicken
Saffron Rice

If you've got long-grain rice, saffron threads and celery, finely minced, you're most of the way to this chicken: about 60 minutes of cooking across 7 steps. Below: the ingredients split into pantry staples and a quick shopping list, a built-in serving scaler, and the method in 7 steps.

You'll mainly reach for frying pan / skillet and saucepan. At medium difficulty across 7 steps, it's manageable with a little attention.

What you'll need

Servings4

Shopping list (4)

Pantry staples (you likely have these)

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How to make it

  1. Warm the chicken stock until steaming, then crumble the saffron threads into it and let them steep for at least 10 minutes so the stock turns deep gold.
  2. Rinse the rice under cold running water until the water runs clear, then drain it well in a sieve.
  3. Melt the ghee in a saucepan over medium heat and gently fry the onion and celery for 4 to 5 minutes until soft but not coloured.
  4. Add the drained rice and stir for 2 minutes so every grain is coated in the fat and lightly toasted.
  5. Pour in the saffron stock, then stir in the brown sugar, molasses and a good pinch of salt, and bring to a brisk boil.
  6. Reduce the heat to the lowest setting, cover tightly, and cook undisturbed for 15 to 18 minutes until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender.
  7. Turn off the heat and let the rice rest, covered, for 5 minutes, then fluff gently with a fork and serve.

You'll use: Frying pan / skillet Β· Saucepan Β· Pan Β· Steamer

Ingredient substitutions

Brown Sugar
white sugar + 1 tbsp molasses per cup

Tips & common questions

How long does Saffron Rice take to make?

About 60 minutes from start to finish β€” an estimate based on the 7 steps and 9 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.

What can I use instead of brown sugar?

Try white sugar + 1 tbsp molasses per cup. See the substitutions section above for more swaps.

Can I scale this recipe up or down?

Yes β€” use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.

How should I store leftovers?

Cool leftovers quickly, refrigerate in an airtight container, and eat within 3 days. Reheat until piping hot throughout.

Saffron Rice is an original recipe developed in-house by Consomee. Photo: Grain saffron rice.jpg (Public domain) via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure on top β€” how we source recipes.