Best Crispy Saffron Rice Recipes

HERB RICE WITH GREEN GARLIC, SAFFRON, AND CRISPY SHALLOTS

Steps:

• Place rice in a large bowl and pour in lukewarm water to cover. Using your hands, agitate rice until water becomes cloudy; drain. Repeat process until water stays clear (4-5 times). Cover rice with 6 cups cold water and add a generous handful of salt (water should taste salty). Let soak uncovered at room temperature at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours.
• Meanwhile, pour oil into a medium saucepan to come about 2" up sides. Add shallots and set over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until shallots are golden and crisp, 10-12 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer shallots to paper towels and season with salt. Strain oil into a small bowl; let cool.
• Toss cilantro, dill, parsley, mint, and tarragon in a medium bowl; set aside 1 cup for serving. Dissolve saffron in 2 Tbsp. hot water in a small bowl.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil (use a nonstick pot if you have one; it will help the rice release at the end). Drain rice and add to pot, stirring gently to prevent any grains from sticking to the bottom. Bring to a boil and cook until grains begin to float on the surface and dance (rice should be almost tender but with a firm, opaque center), about 4 minutes. Drain rice and rinse under cold water. Spread out on a rimmed baking sheet. Wash out pot.
• Pour 3 Tbsp. shallot oil into clean pot. Swirl in 2 tsp. saffron water; reserve remaining saffron water for serving. Oil mixture should barely coat bottom of pot; add more oil if needed. Season lightly with salt. Lay lavash across pot (it can go up the sides a little, but don't overlap). Spoon a third of rice over lavash; top with a third of herbs and a third of green garlic. Repeat, alternating layers of rice, herbs, and green garlic to form a mound. Use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke several holes in rice (without hitting bottom of pot) to let steam escape. Wrap lid with a kitchen towel and cover pot. Cook over medium heat until herbs are slightly darkened, 10-15 minutes.
• Reduce heat to medium-low, uncover and pour melted butter evenly over rice. Cover and cook until rice is fragrant and fluffy, 20-30 minutes. Remove from heat; let sit 10 minutes. Taste rice and season with more salt if needed.
• Scoop 1 1/2 cups rice into reserved saffron water and toss to color rice. Layer saffron rice with rice in pot, reserved herbs, and crispy shallots. Top with rose petals if using. Break up lavash crust into pieces and serve alongside rice.

CRISPY SAFFRON RICE

Steps:

• Put the rice in a large bowl, then cover with enough water so that it comes up a couple inches above the rice. Soak for 30 minutes. Drain the rice, then rinse it well.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add 2 tablespoons salt.
• Crush the saffron using a mortar and pestle, then add 3 tablespoons boiling water from the pot and allow to steep and break down.
• Add the rice to the boiling water and cook until it's soft on the outside but still has a bite on the inside, 4 to 5 minutes. Drain and rinse under cool water to stop the cooking.
• Heat a 12-inch nonstick skillet with a lid over medium-high heat and add the ghee and the saffron water; swirl it around so it coats the pan evenly. Add the rice and pack it down firmly with the back of a spatula, mounding it slightly higher in the center. Use the handle of the spatula to poke a few holes in the rice, stopping right before you get to the very bottom of the rice (this allows the steam to escape). Carefully cover the skillet with a clean dish towel and then the lid, folding the corners of the towel up around the lid so they don't touch the stove (if you're working with a gas range, you may want to fold the towel up around the lid before putting it on the skillet to be extra careful that your towel doesn't touch the flame). Cook on medium-high for 30 minutes, then reduce the heat to medium-low until the bottom is golden brown, about 7 minutes more. Carefully uncover the skillet, keeping the cover level so that any moisture collected under the towel doesn't spill out and burn you or fall back into the rice.
• Flip the rice out onto a plate so that the crispy bottom becomes the top. Serve!