- Submitted by Dahlia
(Saffron Rice, Kesar Pulao, Kungumapoo Sadam)
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Zafrani Pulav is also caled Kesar Pulao in India and as Saffron Rice is many other countries. It is rice dish wherein basmati rice is cooked with saffron and a few other spices. The natural colour and aroma of Saffron flavours the rice.
Saffron (Kesar) is the costliest spice in the world. It was used in making all royal dishes and even today used while making wedding meals. It has a grassy taste and aroma. It goes well with sweet dishes and is often used in making desserts like kheer, sheera etc. in India. It is also added to pulaos and briyanis. The beautiful orangish yellow colour that it adds makes the dish look and smell amazing.
In India, Saffron is also added to milk and given to pregnant ladies. This Saffron Milk is said to improve the complexion of the baby. Not sure if this is actually true but many adultrated saffron is sold in the market for this purpose.
I recently received a parcel from Kashmir Online Store for review, which you can check out here. In the parcel was a box of aromatic good quality Saffron. I decided then and there to make Zafrani Pulao. This rice can be served with just raita or with any veg or non-veg gravies. It is another quick pulao that can be made. Do try it on your next special occasion.
Video Instructions for Zafrani Pulao
Recipe for Zafrani Pulao
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Serves: 3-4
Ingredients
- Basmati Rice - 1.5 cups
- Saffron - 2 pinches
- Warm Milk - 1/4 cup
- Hot water - 2.5 cups
- Nuts (Cashews, Almonds, Walnuts etc) - 1/2 cup
- Dried Fruits (Golden Raisins or other dry fruits like Black Raisins, Cranberries, Pineapple etc) - 1/4 cup
- Whole Garam Masala - (cinnamon stick - 2, cardamon - 2)
- Black Cumin (Shahi Jeera) - 1 tsp
- Nutmeg Powder - a pinch
- Onion - 1/2 (for frying)
- Ghee - 3 tbsp
- Salt - 1/2 tsp
Optional Ingredients
- Fresh fruits (eg: Pomegranate, apple) - 1/4 cup (for garnish)
- Paneer - 1/2 cup
Preparation Steps
- Wash and soak the rice for at least 30 minutes.
- Soak the saffron strands in the hot milk.
- Slice the onion lengthwise and fry it till it become brown. Remove and keep aside.
- Heat ghee in a pan, fry the nuts, remove and keep aside.
Method
- Heat ghee in a pan and splutter the cumin seeds and whole garam masala.
- Drain the soaked rice and add to this. Roast it in ghee for few minutes.
- Add hot water and salt.
- Cover and cook for 5-7 minutes till most of the moisture is absorbed.
- At this stage add the soaked saffron-milk mixture on top of the rice. Also add the toasted nuts, nutmeg powder and fried onions.
- Cover and cook on low flame for another 3-5 minutes till the rice is completely done and all the moisture is absorbed.
- Add few drops of ghee on top and fluff up with a fork. Garnish with additional nuts, fresh fruits, fried paneer cubes and fresh saffron strands.
Detailed Steps to make Zafrani Pulav
Wash and soak the rice for at least 30 minutes. Soak the saffron strands in the hot milk.
Slice the onion lengthwise and fry it till it become brown. Remove and keep aside.
Heat ghee in a pan, fry the nuts, remove and keep aside.
Heat ghee in a pan and splutter the cumin seeds and whole garam masala.
Drain the soaked rice and add to this. Roast it in ghee for few minutes.
Add hot water and salt.
Cover and cook for 5-7 minutes till most of the moisture is absorbed.
At this stage add the soaked saffron-milk mixture, toasted nuts, nutmeg powder and fried onions on top of the rice.
Cover and cook on low flame for another 3-5 minutes till the rice is completely done and all the moisture is absorbed. Add few drops of ghee on top and fluff up with a fork.
Garnish with additional nuts, fresh fruits, fried paneer cubes and fresh saffron strands.
Serving Zafrani Pulav
- Zafrani Pulao tastes best with raita so that the flavour of saffron will be highlighted.
- For weddings, parties and other royal occasions this is served with any veg/ non-veg curries.
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