Saffron Rice Pilaf with Chicken

This saffron rice pilaf is nourishing, fulfilling and good for the soul too. Filled with dried fruits, orange zest and nuts.  Flavored with saffron and packed with protein, that’s what makes it the best meal ever! And gluten free too!

This is a family favorite meal,  here we are lovers of this cooking style, rice pilafs, which they are from south Asian cuisines, Indian, and Iranian. This meal specially is Persian. It’s such an aromatic rice, especially when you you can get your hands on a high quality saffron.

Omg the aroma, makes you feel like you have been sent to heaven and got back! But why you have to come back again? Well, obviously, so you can devour this meal! Ya, with saffron life color is a vibrant orangish red. And ya it’s beautiful.

This saffron rice pilaf with chicken is great for a dinner party. Or you can just enjoy it to have a special day of being nourished, fulfilled and satisfied. It’s one of the few meals that my husband loves. It feels great when you see a smile and gratitude from the people you love, when they are busy enjoying a special meal, made with love and care.

Why this saffron rice?

This saffron rice is healthy for you because:

• It has saffron that has so many chemicals that works as antioxidant like beta-carotene and lycopene.
• The main active compound called α-crocin which give the saffron it’s distinctive yellow reddish golden color, has a  role as antioxidant. And can improves memory , learning and protecting brain cells too. That’s why in this study they believed it may has great role for prevention or treatment for Alzheimer disease.
• It has spices like turmeric  that has ant-inflammatory effects. Studies shows it’s effect on colon diseases, Alzheimer, arthritis, and improving liver functions, and it could boost memory too .
• It has nuts like pistachio, the different colors of green and purple in pistachio are due to antioxidants content like polyphenols. They may make you live longer. and improve the lipid profile  

Enjoy!

This recipe is inspired by the one in bon appetite magazine.

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Yield: 4

Saffron Rice Pilaf with Chicken

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

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Ingredients

• 1 Tb vegetable oil
• A handful of pistachios ( 2 Tb)
• 2 Tb of dried cranberry
• Orange zest of 1 medium orange
• 4 Tb of raisins
• 1 cup of Basmti rice
• 1 1/2 cup chicken broth*
• 1 small onion minced
• Few threads (2 tsp) of saffron divided
• 1 Tb of rose water
• Chicken thighs (preferably 3 or 4 pieces, around 750g) with bones. You can use boneless also you can use breasts( needs less time coking, and not advised).
• 1 Tb of 7 spices (mix or ground black pepper, cinnamon , cloves, cardamom , coriander, cumin, paprika)
• 1 tsp of turmeric
• Optional:
• 1 Tb of ghee or butter
• Almonds, pine nuts and cashews ( Tb of each)

Instructions

1. Wash the rice thoroughly, and soak it at least 30 minutes.
2. In a clean large pot, add 1 Tb of oil. Saute onion, cranberries, raisins, orange zest, pistachios for 10 minutes on low heat.
3. Add chicken, 1 Tb of 7 spice mix, turmeric, saffron threads and salt, saute for 5 minutes.
4. Put the rice, and saute again.
5. Then add chicken broth and cover the pot with a tight lid.
6. Keep it on high heat for 5 minutes, then turn the heat to lowest. Keep the pilaf for 30 minutes, or until the rice fluffy and absorbed the liquid completely.
7. Before the rice is completely done, after around 25 minutes, mix saffron threads with rose water and add them to the rice, and cover the pot again.
8. Optional:
9. In a small skillet, add 1 Tb of ghee, when its hot, add almonds, pine nuts, cashews, toast them until they are golden brown, and drizzle over the rice.
10. Serve the rice with yogurt or green salad.
11. Refrigerate any leftovers