Go Back
–+ servings
Saffron rice served in a bowl with saffron threads on the side

Saffron Rice (Fluffy and Ready in 20 Minutes)

5 from 3 votes
This Saffron Rice is beautifully golden and made to fluffy perfection. Easy to make and infused with a touch of saffron to take plain white rice to another level!
Author: Ayeh Manfre
Course: Sides
Cuisine: Persian
Servings: 4
Calories: 205kcal
Print
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time25 minutes

Ingredients 

  • Good pinch of saffron threads or ⅛ teaspoon ground saffron powder
  • 1 cup basmati rice
  • 1 ½ cups water
  • ½ brown onion - diced
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Grind the saffron in a mortar and pestle to create a powder consistency
    Add ⅛ of a teaspoon of the powder to a small bowl or glass with 2 tablespoons of boiling water to infuse the saffron
  • Add the rice to a small pot and rinse thoroughly under running water until the water is clear and not murky. Transfer the washed rice to a colander
  • In the same pot, add olive oil and diced onion and saute on a low heat for 5 minutes until onions are translucent
  • Add the washed rice to the pot and toast rice for a minute
  • Add 1 ½ cups of water to the pot along with the saffron water and salt. Stir through and cook for a few minutes without the lid over a medium-high heat
  • Once you see the water is starting to boil, place the lid on and simmer on a low heat for 15-20 minutes.
    * Check the rice at 15 minutes, if it seems hard or crunchy, add 1-2 tablespoons of water and cook for the remaining 5 minutes, otherwise move to next step
  • If the rice is cooked, turn the heat off and remove the pot from the stove. Keep the lid on and allow it to steam for 5 minutes
  • Gently fluff the rice with a fork and its ready to serve! Enjoy your fluffy and delicious saffron rice with your favorite stew, curry or protein!
⭐️ Final Step! Would love if you left a rating and comment to let me know how it went. Your feedback helps inspire others and means alot ❤️

Notes

  • You can use vegetable broth or chicken broth as a substitute instead of the water when cooking the rice for extra flavor

Nutrition

Calories: 205kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 298mg | Potassium: 73mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 0.3IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 0.4mg
Keywords: basmati rice, fluffy, quick, rice, saffron