Saffron is considered to be the most expensive spice in the world. It has a very distinctive taste. It is said to have many medicinal qualities including purification of blood and it increases the complection too. 🙂 This dish is best cooked in ghee / clarified butter.
Prep time: 10 mts
Cooking time : 15 mts
Serves : 5
Ingredients:
- Basmati rice – 2 cups
- Onion – 1 (sliced)
- Cinnamon stick – 3 cm
- Cardamom – 3
- Cloves – 3
- Ghee (clarified butter) – 1 tsp
- Saffron – a small pinch
- Water – 4 cups
- Salt – 1 1/2 tsp
- Juice of 1 lime
- Raisins – 2 table spoon
Method:
- Wash the rice and remove excess starch from it.
- Soak it in water for 10 mts.
- In a small bowl add the saffron into 1/4 cup of water.
- By the time prep other ingredients and keep a deep pan in the stove.
- When the pan is heated add ghee and allow it to melt.
- Add in the Cinnamon stick, cardamom and cloves and saute for a few seconds. Be careful, sometimes the spices will burst and pop on you.
- Add the onions and cook it till it becomes soft.
- Now add the drained rice and fry carefully for a few minutes till rice gets separated. It is best to fry it in low fire. Take your time doing this step.
- Add the water and the saffron water together with the saffron threads.
- Now add in the lime juice, salt and raisins and give it a good mix.
- Allow the water to boil.
- When the water starts to boil, lower the heat and close the pan with a tight lid.
- Cook for ~10 minutes.
- After 10 mts, switch off the gas and make the rice fluffy using a fork.
- Sprinkle a handful of water on the rice and close the lid again and allow it to rest for a few minutes.
Comments by Seema Nair