The original recipe taught me by my mother and her cousin called for the addition of Parmesan cheese stirred into rice mixture after the chicken broth had been absorbed. This creates a slightly creamy flavor, detracting (in my opinion) from the delicate Saffron flavor. I prefer the taste of Saffron to that of cheese. Both versions are quite good.
Finely chop onions. In a large skillet melt butter and cook onion over low heat until transparent but not brown, Add rice and stir to coat with oil. Cook over low heat for a few minutes until rice just begins to turn slightly brown. Meanwhile heat chicken broth in a sauce pan over medium heat, do not boil. Add enough warm chicken broth to cover rice mixture. Cook over medium heat continually stiring, adding chicken broth as it becomes absorbed until rice is cooked to a tender consistency. Add Saffron to the rice when adding the last (or near to the last) batch of broth.
IMPORTANT: DO NOT ALLOW RICE TO BECOME DRY DURING THIS PROCESS.
Add Parmesan cheese if desired and stir until blended.
NOTE: There are two varieties of Saffron. One that only colors the rice and the other which gives it both color and flavor. An easy way to distinguish between the two is price. The better Saffron is not inexpensive but well worth it. It comes in both a thread and powdered form. I believe the threads have better flavor than the powered variety. In my opinion the cheaper Saffron should be replaced with yellow food coloring which is far less expensive and produces the same flavorless color. Don't waste you time with the low price product. Rather than dissapoint Saffron lovers choose a different side dish such as pasta or potatoes.
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Serving Size: 1 Serving (491g) | ||
Recipe Makes: 12 | ||
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Calories: 378 | ||
Calories from Fat: 96 (25%) | ||
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Amt Per Serving | % DV | |
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Total Fat 10.7g | 14 % | |
Saturated Fat 6.2g | 31 % | |
Monounsaturated Fat 2.9g | ||
Polyunsanturated Fat 0.6g | ||
Cholesterol 28.5mg | 9 % | |
Sodium 1124.4mg | 39 % | |
Potassium 193.4mg | 5 % | |
Total Carbohydrate 55.1g | 16 % | |
Dietary Fiber 3.1g | 13 % | |
Sugars, other 51.9g | ||
Protein 14.4g | 21 % | |
Powered by: USDA Nutrition Database Disclaimer: Nutrition facts are derived from linked ingredients (shown at left in colored bullets) and may or may not be complete. Always consult a licensed nutritionist or doctor if you have a nutrition-related medical condition. |
Calories per serving: 378
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