So you’ve been hearing all the buzz about Saffron, the unique yet mysterious spice and you want to know what everyone’s talking about, right? Well, you’ve come to the right place. At Zarlux we know quite a bit about saffron uses, how to harvest it, and it’s many benefits. So, we have made it our mission to help grow the knowledge about this wonderful spice around the globe.
What is saffron?
Saffron is a rare spice known for its unique combination of potent color, aroma, and flavor and it is known to be one the most expensive spices in the world. Saffron is extracted from the Crocus sativus flower and its threads (which include the stigma and style) are used as a seasoning or coloring agent in various cuisines and it has been studied for its medicinal properties. The handpicked stigmas have a gorgeous orange crimson color. This color is due to crocin, one of the main compounds found in the threads while the flavor and aroma are the results of picrocrocin and safranal compounds. These three properties are used as measures for the quality and freshness of saffron.
Why is saffron so expensive?
Saffron is considered one of the most luxurious spices in the world based on its price by weight. In fact, saffron can be priced higher than gold! But this is all for a good reason. Saffron is an autumn perennial and requires the careful selection of only its best flowers and threads. Today, Saffron is available in many places around the globe however, Iran is the world’s largest producer of saffron, accounting for about 90 percent of saffron each year. Other countries such as Spain and Italy also produce large amounts of saffron.
Saffron can cost thousands of dollars per kilogram, depending on its origin, freshness, and quality. You might also be surprised to learn that each saffron crocus only produces three stigmas. Also, each saffron crocus bulb will only create one flower. Therefore, you would need about 150 bulbs and flowers to produce 1 gram of saffron. There are also four types of saffron typically sold on the market, which we have covered in detail in our blog about the types of saffron. Because saffron stigmas are picked and sorted by hand, the harvesting process is extremely time-consuming. It’s no wonder that this exotic spice might be the priciest ingredient in your kitchen.
What does Saffron Taste Like?
Saffron is known for its distinct sweet floral aroma and earthy flavors, so high-quality saffron smells sweet but is more bitter in taste. However, each person tends to describe its taste differently. In our opinion, the best way to judge how saffron tastes is to try it for yourself in a recipe for a beverage or dish that calls for saffron.
So, we’ve included six of our favorite recipes below to get you started on using saffron.
Saffron Uses in Six Recipes
1- Saffron Rice with Barberries (Zereshk Polo)
Saffron rice is a staple recipe in every Persian household. Incorporating saffron into a simple rice recipe is a great way to ease into the world of saffron. This recipe features long-grain Iranian rice that is full of flavor from sweet and tart barberries and aromatic saffron. In this recipe, we’ll walk you through how to make fluffy saffron rice with barberries and a saffron and yogurt tahdig, the cherished crispy and golden layer of rice at the bottom of the pot.
2- Persian Chicken With Saffron
You can’t go wrong with the wonderful saffron flavors infused in tender chicken with a side of sweet-and-sour barberry rice. In this recipe, we will show you one of the many Persian chicken recipes using saffron and lemon juice. This tender chicken recipe can be made along and served with saffron rice with barberries or other Persian rice recipes. It’s also the perfect make-ahead recipe that can be kept in the fridge for up to 2 days.
3- Saffron Pear Cake
Saffron is not limited to just savory recipes, it can also be incorporated into luxurious desserts or beverages. This saffron pear cake is simply the best. Derived from a classic butter cake with the addition of saffron and adorned with a delicious pear. This saffron dessert is unique, elegant, and excellent for serving to guests.
4- Saffron Tea
There are many health benefits associated with Saffron such as improving mood and metabolism. A simple way to take advantage of the health benefits of saffron would be to incorporate saffron into a tea, or herbal tea, and to enjoy it daily. This saffron tea recipe gives step-by-step instructions on how to perfectly brew saffron tea to enjoy at any time of the day.
5- Seafood Stew with Saffron Basil Cream Sauce
This spectacular seafood stew features tender scallops, flounder, shrimp, and crab meat on a bed of linguine. To top it off, we’ve got a decadent basil saffron cream sauce. This is a hearty and nutritious dish that features a unique and rich flavor, sure to have you reaching for seconds.
6- Risotto Milanese
If you’ve ever had risotto, you might be wondering how it could be possible to make this already wonderful dish more decadent. The answer is saffron and we’ve got the perfect saffron risotto recipe for you. Of course, risotto takes some time and plenty of patience to prepare, however, the results will be well worth it.
Saffron is luxurious, exotic, and expensive. However, adding this unique spice to your meals will offer some remarkable flavor. Although saffron is pricey, a little bit goes a long way. You only need a fine amount of ground saffron for typical recipes. Fresh saffron can be stored up to six months in your kitchen, as long as it’s kept in an airtight container in a cool, dark space. We encourage you to check out the wide selection of saffron offered by Zarlux to find what is best suited for your needs. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or just beginning to learn about saffron, we will be happy to guide you on your journey to learn about the many saffron uses.