74 saffron recipes

Curried eggplant strudel wrapped in crispy phyllo with saffron, cumin, peanuts, and tomatoes. Baked golden and served with cool yogurt. A stunning Indian-meets-Viennese fusion.

Saffron-dusted veal scallops pan-seared and finished with a white wine lime cream sauce with green peppercorns. Served over blanched asparagus for an elegant spring dinner.

Manhattan-style fish chowder with grouper, fresh tomatoes, green peppers, and saffron simmered in sesame oil. A tomato-based seafood soup ready in under an hour.

Shereen Polo is a Persian jeweled rice pilau with saffron, julienned carrots, orange peel, almonds, pistachios, and rose water in sugar syrup. Served with crispy tahdig and a side of chicken stew.

Brandy-laced bundt pound cake served with a saffron-tinted lemon curd. The classic 1-1-1 pound cake gets a boozy lift, while saffron steeped in lemon juice turns the cream sunset gold.

Provencal vegetable stew with fennel, potatoes, tomatoes, saffron, orange zest, olives, and white wine. A fragrant, hearty vegetarian one-pot meal served with garlic mayo.

Vegetarian paella simmers brown rice with saffron, leeks, peas, and black olives in a single pan. Spanish one-pot meatless main with golden hue from real saffron threads. Serve with toasted nuts.

A hearty arroz con pollo loaded with browned chicken, chorizo sausage, saffron rice, tomatoes, and bell peppers, all baked together until the rice is fluffy and golden. Feeds a crowd of 10 with ease.

Paellaquinoa combines classic paella with quinoa instead of rice. Saffron-scented quinoa baked with chicken, chorizo, shrimp, and clams. Gluten-free.

In other parts of Central Asia this dish is made with red beans and I have it made with beef, horse, camel, chicken, and venison for the meat instead of the lamb. It is excellent anyway it comes.

Paella a la Basquaise, a Basque-style saffron rice loaded with halibut, shrimp, mussels, clams, and chorizo, layered with prosciutto and baked in an earthenware casserole. A showstopping seafood paella.

Provencal tomato, fennel, and potato stew with saffron, orange zest, and white wine. A rustic Mediterranean vegetable braise served with garlic mayonnaise (aioli) for dipping.

Moroccan vegetable soup simmers lamb (or beef) stew meat with turnips, carrots, celery, tomatoes, and saffron, finished with zucchini, angel hair pasta, and fresh herbs.

Homemade curry powder ground in a blender from coriander, cumin, fenugreek, turmeric, fennel, and a touch of saffron. A 14-spice blend with brighter, fresher flavor than store-bought tins.

Saffron-braised lamb shoulder served over herb couscous with cucumber, red pepper, and fresh mint. A North African-inspired one-pot meal with bright, herby accompaniments.

Lapsi is a traditional Indian bulgur wheat dessert cooked in milk with saffron, cardamom, fennel seeds, and golden raisins. Topped with slivered almonds for a warm, fragrant sweet.