Have you tried saffron? A little pinch goes a long way.
It’s hard to believe that a tiny part of a flower can also be a highly prized spice. Have you ever tasted the most expensive (expensive: Costing a lot of money ... high in price or charging high prices; ) spice in the world?
What Is Saffron?
The delicate (delicate: Very fine in texture or structure; of intricate workmanship or quality ... (of a color or a scent) Subtle and subdued ) threads of saffron are actually (actually: As the truth or facts of a situation; really ... Used to emphasize that something someone has said or done is surprising ) the stigma of the purple crocus. Each flower gives only three strands that must be hand-picked. An acre of crocus flowers will yield 5 to 7 pounds of saffron, which is why the price tag for one ounce (approximately 13,000 threads) can easily approach (approach: A way of dealing with something ... An act of speaking to someone for the first time about something, typically a proposal or request ) $500.00! You may be able to find ground powdered saffron for less money but it’s not nearly as flavorful and loses its “umph” quickly.
Thankfully a little goes a long way. Trying to figure on how much to buy? The spice gurus at Penzey’s give these helpful conversions: 1 gram = 2 teaspoons whole, 1 teaspoon crumbled or ½ teaspoon powdered.
Once you bring some home, store in a cool, dark place for up to six months.
Healthy Attributes
Known for its spicy-sweet and somewhat floral flavor, saffron also imparts a distinct burnt orange hue when cooked. Across many cultures it’s an integral ingredient (ingredient: Any of the foods or substances that are combined to make a particular dish ... A component part or element of something) in bouillabaisse, paella and rice dishes like risotto.
Once used for medicinal purposes for treatment of digestive issues, nowadays we focus on the benefits of its carotenoid (carotenoid: Any of a class of mainly yellow, orange, or red fat-soluble pigments, including carotene, which give color to plant parts such as ripe tomatoes and autumn leaves. They are terpenoids based on a structure having the formula C40H56 ... any of a class of highly unsaturated yellow to red pigments occurring in plants and animals) content (those health protecting (protecting: Keep safe from harm or injury ... Aim to preserve (a threatened plant or animal species) by legislating against collecting or hunting) red and orange antioxidants).
5 Ways to Love Saffron
1. Roasted with fish
2. In creamy risotto
3. To flavor up couscous
4. In marinades for chicken
5. Infused into a dipping sauce
Tell Us: Have you tried saffron?
