If you want the comforting taste of saffron rice with the nutritional value of a whole grain, try this simple saffron brown rice recipe. The key is to combine the goodness of brown rice with slow-cooked seasoning.
index
- What is Saffron Rice?
- Why We Love This Simple Saffron Brown Rice Recipe
- Brown Rice Saffron Rice Ingredients
- How to Make Healthy Saffron Rice
- Healthy Menu Ideas for Saffron Rice
- FAQs and expert tips
- Additional Rice Recipes to Try
What is Saffron Rice?
Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world and is harvested from certain types of crocus in the fall. Various versions of saffron rice can be found in one form or another throughout the Middle East, South Asia, the Mediterranean, and other parts of Europe. It is usually made with white rice, broth or vegetable chunks and saffron.
Why We Love This Simple Saffron Brown Rice Recipe
This brown saffron rice was inspired by the paella my family used to make. We used to make it in an enamel cobalt blue paella pan using saffron threads, fresh seafood, chicken, sausage and rice in good quantities. The process was labor intensive, but it was always a festive way to celebrate with family.
For this saffron rice recipe, I wanted to develop a simple side dish recipe that was easy to make but had similar taste. It’s naturally dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegetarian, so you can add it to your menu when you need a healthy, festive side that everyone will enjoy.
I published this recipe on October 30, 2014. I’ve updated some of the text to share with you again today.
Brown Rice Saffron Rice Ingredients
- saffron: You can find saffron at most grocery stores in the spice aisle. This spice is key to the sweet, mild floral aroma and flavor and distinctive yellow color of the final dish.
- Brown rice: At Healthy Seasonal Recipes, we focus on using whole grains instead of refined grains. Saffron rice is usually made from white rice, but we prefer brown rice, which has many health benefits and has a bit more texture and flavor.
- olive oil: 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- garlic: One of the main flavors of this dish is garlic. You’ll need a whopping 5 cloves! Peel the skin and chop it finely.
- onion: A small amount of onion along with onion is used to create the base flavor of this healthy saffron rice. I’ve made it with either sweet onions or red onions, and both are delicious. If you have yellow or Spanish onions on hand, you can also use them. If you need a refresher, here’s how to dice an onion.
- sign: The secret to making this side dish stand out is a touch of dry thyme and smoked paprika. This is reminiscent of paella cooked over an open fire, adding a slight smoky flavor to the rice. You will also need salt to season the rice.
- Broth or stock: For the liquid, you can use vegetable stock or vegetable stock. Chicken broth or chicken stock also works perfectly.
- Chopped Parsley: Adds freshness and green color to the final dish.
Chef Katie’s Expert Tips
Money saving tips: Saffron is one of the most expensive spices on the market. If you want a little more saffron, halve the amount and add a little more turmeric (1/4 teaspoon). It doesn’t taste the same, but it adds a strong yellow color to the rice. Use the rest to make this Chicken and Vegetable Stew with Saffron and Preserved Lemon to take you on a trip to Morocco in your kitchen!
Vegetable feel: At HSR, we always like to add vegetables to our meals. To this rice dish, you can add 1 red bell pepper, chopped along with the onion, and mix in 3/4 cup of thawed green peas with the parsley for 3 additional servings of vegetables!
How to Make Healthy Saffron Rice
Step 1: Cook the Garlic and Onions
Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the garlic, stir until fragrant, and cook until beginning to brown, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Add onion and stir to coat. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onions are brown and soft, 3 to 5 minutes.
Step 2: Add aromatics
Add saffron, thyme, smoked paprika, and salt and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Step 3: Add broth and rice
Pour in the broth and increase the heat. Stir well to evenly distribute the saffron threads and bring the broth to a boil. Add rice and boil again.
Step 4: Cover and cook rice.
Cover, reduce heat to medium or low, continue to simmer, and cook until broth is absorbed and rice is tender, about 50 degrees.
Step 5: Add Parsley
Turn off the heat, add parsley and stir-fry.
Healthy Menu Ideas for Saffron Rice
The flavors of this dish pair well with Spanish-inspired foods and seafood. It’s also fantastic with curry or Moroccan-style dishes. Try one of these meals:
- Moroccan braised lamb shank with chickpeas or lamb tagine with plums go great with this recipe.
- Try making Classic Roast Chicken or Spiced Roast Chicken for Sunday dinner. Serve with simple vegetable dishes like cooked baby carrots or sautéed spinach.
- For a vegetarian dinner, try the saffron brown rice and green garden salad with mushroom frittata.
- To further enhance the paella flavor, add grilled sausage or grilled shrimp. Serve cooked peas on the side to finish your meal.
FAQs and expert tips
If you store leftover rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator, you can eat it the next day.
Saffron should taste fresh, floral and sweet. Avoid saffron that tastes like plastic or metal. Learn more in this guide to buying saffron.
If the rice is still too tough after cooking, add water 1/4 cup at a time and continue cooking for 5 to 10 minutes more.
Additional Rice Recipes to Try
- This easy chicken rice soup recipe is made in one pot and ready in under 40 minutes.
- This chickpea burgers with brown rice recipe includes fun ingredients like chopped carrots, parsley, lemon tahini sauce, and more!
- I love this chicken and wild rice noodles on chilly fall days.
- This chicken and rice casserole is simple to make and everyone always loves it.
- This one pot chicken rice with spring greens couldn’t be easier.
- My Brown Rice and Sweet Potato Salad is made with orange peels, dried cranberries, and various other goodies.
- If you like risotto, be sure to try Brown Rice Kale Risotto with Cheddar Cheese, Brown Rice Pumpkin Risotto, and Brown Rice Risotto with Peas.
At Healthy Seasonal Recipes, we specialize in cooking. fresh vegetables and create weekday meals. Sign up here to receive more produce-based dinner ideas for free! Please come back if you make this recipe. Please leave a rating and review. I’d love to hear your thoughts! Happy cooking! ~Katie
Brown Rice Saffron Rice
Total Time:
1 hour 20 minutes
produce:
5 cupsServes 4 main dishes or 6 side dish 1X
Print Recipe
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explanation
This is a simple recipe for brown rice with smoked paprika and saffron. Vegan and gluten-free.
ingredient
unit
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 5 garlic clove, minced
- 1 small sweet onion or red onion
- 1 teaspoon Loosely packed saffron threads, 1/2 g
- 1/2 teaspoon dry time
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cup brown rice
- 3 1/2 cup vegetable brothIt’s like imagining it without chicken.
- 3/4 cup chopped parsley
guideline
- Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the garlic, stir until fragrant, and cook until beginning to brown, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Add onion and stir to coat. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onions are brown and soft, 3 to 5 minutes.
- Add saffron, thyme, smoked paprika, and salt and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Pour in the broth and increase the heat. Stir well to evenly distribute the saffron threads and then boil.
- Add rice and boil again.
- Cover, reduce heat to medium or low, continue to simmer, and cook until liquid is absorbed and rice is very tender, 50 to 60 minutes.
- Turn off the heat, add parsley and stir-fry.
memo
Cooking Tips:
If the rice is not soft after cooking, add water 1/4 cup at a time and continue cooking for 5 to 10 minutes more.
nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/4 cups each for entree serving. 2/3 cup
- calorie: 164
- sugar: 5g
- sodium: 963mg
- province: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- carbohydrate: 21g
- fiber: 2g
- protein: 3g
