What Is Saffron Risotto?
Saffron Risotto is an Italian rice dish flavored with saffron. It can contain any number of ingredients including meats, vegetables, and sea food or it can be served plain. The main point is that the saffron turns the rice bright yellow. Does this Spark an idea?
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Saffron
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Saffron comes from the crocus sativus, a perennial flower that blooms in the autumn and is native to Asia Minor. The part of the crocus that people eat are the stigmas, the female parts that look like three thin yellow threads that grow in the center of each bloom. Saffron is very expensive to collect but a little bit goes a very long way in the kitchen. One-fourth teaspoon of saffron is enough to flavor about 10 pounds of rice.
Toasting the Rice
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Risotto is Italian for rice. Saffron risotto starts with uncooked rice. To make the rice have its distinctive texture, before adding any liquid, the uncooked grains are toasted in a frying pan in about 4 tablespoons of melted butter or olive oil. It takes careful attention to toast the rice so that it plumps up and gets a bit more color but does not burn or turn too brown. Usually, 1/3 cup of finely chopped pieces of onion are sauteed in the same pan along with the rice.
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Cooking the Rice
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Instead of cooking the rice in a pot of water, saffron risotto is made using beef broth and white wine. For 1 1/2 cups of uncooked rice, you will need 5 cups of broth and 1/2 cup of wine. Put the toasted rice and the onions into a saucepan. Pour over the broth and wine mixture and allow it to cook over a medium heat.
Adding Saffron
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Saffron is sold in two forms--as a powder or as threads. When the rice has been cooking for around 10 minutes, add a very small pinch of powdered saffron. This will color the rice yellow and add a subtle flavor. The rice needs to continue cooking for approximately ten more minutes. You will know that it is ready when all of the liquid has been absorbed by the rice.
Options
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Saffron risotto can include extra ingredients like Parmesan cheese. Add this, freshly grated, to the rice at the table so that each diner can select how much cheese they want. Saffron risotto can even be used as the basis of more elaborate dishes as well. Add cooked pieces of beef, chicken, seafood, or lamb along with some fried green or red peppers with another cup of broth or water and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20 minutes.
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