24 Saffron Recipes to Showcase the World's Most Expensive Spice (2024)

FAQs

How do you make the most out of saffron? ›

Add Saffron Directly to Dishes

The key is to add the saffron early on, allowing it enough time to bloom in the cooking liquid. Some recipes also call for an early step of dry toasting or oil toasting the saffron first, which makes the stamens more brittle, so they break apart in the stew or paella.

Saffron is also a key component in several European dishes, including Spanish paella, Italian risotto and French bouillabaisse. Saffron pairs particularly well with pastas, like this simple Saffron Orzo, as well as grains, such as this good-for-beginners Saffron Rice or this vivid Saffron Jewel Rice.

It is also used a lot in medicine. But saffron is also very expensive. It can cost $5,000 per pound. That is more expensive than gold.

Saffron is thought to be native to the Mediterranean and parts of Asia, but is grown widely across Iran, as well as parts of Spain, France, Italy and India. Saffron strands are the stigmas of the saffron crocus, Crocus sativus.

There are only three stigmata in each saffron flower. Once the stigmata (and their red pistils) have been separated from the plant, they are dried to preserve their color and flavor. Since such a small part of the flower is used, it takes 75,000 saffron flowers to make one pound of saffron spice.

Though it takes ~75,000 blossoms to grow one pound of saffron, you can easily grow plenty for your own enjoyment with a handful of corms, and I hope that you do! Saffron crocus bloom in fall with lusciously long ochre-orange stigmas (saffron!) emerging alongside yellow, pollen-rich anthers.

Saffron may trigger mood swings in people with bipolar disorder. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not use saffron. Interactions. When used as a supplement, saffron may cause problems for people on blood pressure medicine or blood thinners.

Saffron does not expire, but it does have a shelf life. Like other spices, it loses its strong aroma and flavour as it ages and doesn't get preserved. This priceless spice gets harmed by direct light, oxygen, dampness, and heat. With only a little exposure, your Saffron will quickly lose its optimum freshness.

The floral, honeyed notes of saffron also make it ideal for use in desserts. It's excellent paired with milk-based desserts, try adding to ice cream or panna cotta. It's equally good with fruits so try adding it to clafoutis or when poaching fruit.

The saffron petals are used to make potpourri in the United States. Arash says that even growing saffron in the small hoop house in Northern Vermont can be profitable for a small farmer. “The United States is the biggest consumer of saffron in the world,” he explains.

Is saffron more expensive than gold? ›

Saffron can only be harvested and processed by hand as its petals must be peeled away gently to collect the delicate saffron threads. Consequently, an ounce of saffron is valued at more than an ounce of gold. It is unknown exactly where this precious spice originated, but many believe it came from Greece.

The culinary benefits of this hard-to-harvest spice, however, are worth every penny. A little saffron goes a long way—just a few crushed threads can completely elevate a dish. Bloom the threads in warm water or broth, or lightly crush and sprinkle them into soups, sauces, batters, etc.

Allergies to Lolium, Olea (includes olive), and Salsola plant species: People who are allergic to these plants might also be allergic to saffron. Heart conditions: Saffron might affect how fast and how strong the heart beats. Taking large amounts of saffron might worsen some heart conditions.

In areas with diverse communities, you can often find saffron in ethnic grocery stores that cater to Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and South Asian communities. These stores are more likely to carry authentic saffron since saffron is an integral part of the culinary traditions in these regions.

The saffron is then transported to grocery stores around the world. The saffron would be purchased by a company such as McCormick. McCormick would package the spice in smaller containers for individual sale in grocery stores like Giant Eagle or Kroger.

Easy to add to your diet. In small doses, saffron has a subtle taste and aroma and pairs well with savory dishes, such as paella, risottos, and other rice dishes. The best way to draw out saffron's unique flavor is to soak the threads in hot — but not boiling — water.

At the end of the trial, those who took the 28 mg dose had a decrease in negative mood and symptoms related to stress and anxiety compared to a placebo. Research suggests that 15-30mg per day of a standardized saffron extract is most effective for treating the symptoms of depression.

To draw out the colour and to ensure that it's evenly distributed throughout the dish it's to be added to, steep saffron threads in a little warm water, stock, milk or white wine for about 30 mins before using. Then add the liquid to the dish, usually towards the end of cooking.

Ideal doses for saffron have not been set for any condition, although studies have been done using 30 mg of the extract a day, or 15-200 milligrams of dried saffron daily. Ingredients in supplements may vary widely. This makes it very hard to set a standard dose.