Minted Saffron Rice With Currants And Pine Nuts Recipes

Steps:

• In a large heavy saucepan heat oil over moderate heat until hot but not smoking and cook cuminseed, cinnamon stick, and bay leaf, stirring, until mixture is fragrant and cuminseed is several shades darker (be careful not to burn it).
• Add onion and cook, stirring, until softened. Add rice and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add water, currants, saffron, and salt and bring to a boil, covered. Reduce heat to very low and simmer rice, covered, 20 minutes, or until liquid is absorbed.
• Let rice stand 5 minutes. Discard cinnamon stick and bay leaf and stir in pine nuts and mint.

Steps:

• Heat the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the onion; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low, and continue cooking and stirring until the onion is very tender and dark brown, 15 to 20 minutes more.
• Pour in rice and stir to coat. Stir in water, parsley flakes, saffron, and 3 drops of yellow food coloring (optional). Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until water is absorbed, about 30 minutes.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
• Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in the top part of a double boiler placed directly on the stovetop over medium-high heat. Add onion. Cook, stirring, until onion is wilted. Add rice and cook, stirring, for about 30 seconds. Add all remaining ingredients except the remaining butter and bring to a boil.
• Cover and place in the oven. Cook exactly 20 minutes. Remove and discard the bay leaf. Fluff the rice with a fork and stir in the remaining butter. Cover.
• Assemble the double boiler; that is, place the pot containing the rice over simmering water in the bottom half of the double boiler and let stand until ready to serve.

Steps:

• Melt butter in skillet. Add the rice and brown till slightly golden. Add broth and water carefully. Add the currants, bring to a boil and cover and cook on low heat for about 45 minute to an hour. Don't peek at it. Serve with the pine nuts on top.