Moroccan Saffron Rice Recipes

Steps:

• In medium saucepan, bring 2 cups water to a boil; stir in rice and saffron.
• Reduce heat to low; cook, covered, 20 minutes, until all water is absorbed and rice is tender.
• Remove from heat; keep warm.
• Meanwhile, in large nonstick skillet, heat oil; add chicken.
• Cook over medium-high heat, turning once, 8 minutes, until browned on all sides and juices run clear when chicken is pierced with fork.
• Remove chicken from skillet; set aside.
• In same skillet, combine leeks, apricots, cumin, cinnamon and red pepper flakes; cook, stirring frequently, 5 minutes, until leeks are softened.
• Add tomatoes and broth; bring liquid to a boil.
• Reduce heat to low; simmer, covered, 3 minutes, until mixture is heated through.
• Return chicken to skillet; stir in orange sections.
• Cook, turning chicken occasionally, 3 minutes, until chicken is heated through.
• Spoon warm rice mixture onto serving platter.
• Top rice mixture with cooked chicken breasts; surround chicken with vegetable mixture.
• SERVING (1 CHICKEN BREAST, 3/4 CUP RICE, 3/4 CUP VEGETABLE MIXTURE) PROVIDES: 1/2 Fat, 1 Fruit, 2 Vegetables, 3 Proteins, 1 1/2 Breads, 5 Optional Calories.
• PER SERVING: 406 Calories, 5 g Total Fat, 1 g Saturated Fat, 66 mg Cholesterol, 125 mg Sodium, 58 g Total Carbohydrate, 4 g Dietary Fiber, 32 g Protein, 93 mg Calcium; 8 points.

Steps:

• Wash the rice in a sieve until the water runs clear, then drain well and set aside.
• Bring the water to a boil, remove from heat and add the saffron. Allow to infuse for 20 minutes.
• Heat the oil in a heavy saucepan and add the rice, stirring well so that all the rice is coated evenly in the oil. Add the saffron water and salt and stir well.
• Bring to a boil and boil for 1 minute. Cover with a tight fitting lid, then simmer for 10-12 minutes until the water is absorbed. Turn off the heat and let stand, covered, for at least 10 minutes.
• Add the butter and fluff lightly with a fork. Serve and garnish with pistachios.

Steps:

• In a sauce pan, heat the stock almost to boiling.
• Meanwhile, mix the remaining ingredients (except the saffron) in a very large skillet or shallow stock pot.
• Cook the rice and vegetables over medium heat, stirring frequently, for about 10 minutes, or until the onions are translucent and the rice begins to color.
• Add the stock and saffron to the rice, stirring only once. Bring the stock to a simmer, and taste for salt.
• Adjust the seasoning if desired.
• Cover the rice, reduce the heat to low, and simmer gently and undisturbed, for about 25 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender.
• Fluff the rice with a fork, and serve.

Steps:

• Soften saffron in hot water (2 tablespoons) in a small bowl.
• Heat oil in a 5-quart heavy pot over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Fry almonds, stirring frequently, until golden, about 3 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain.
• Fry onion in oil remaining in pot, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer half of onion to a bowl.
• Add rice to onion in pot and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add water (4 1/2 cups), saffron mixture, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and cook, covered, until water is absorbed and rice is tender, 18 to 20 minutes. Let rice stand, covered, off heat 5 minutes.
• While rice stands, stir almonds and currants into bowl with onion.
• Fluff rice with a fork and serve with almond mixture spooned on top.

Steps:

• Rinse rice under cold water until water runs clear; drain.
• Place rice in a microwave-safe rice cooker or bowl.
• Add enough stock until it covers the rice by 2cm.
• Cover with a lid or a double layer of plastic wrap and Cook on High/800watts/100% for 5 minutes.
• Cook on Medium/500watts/50% for a further 7 minutes.
• Remove from microwave and set aside.
• Meanwhile place oil, onion, almonds, pine nuts, cumin, turmeric, cinnamon and chili powder in a microwave safe rice cooker or bowl.
• Cook uncovered stirring every minute on High for 3 to 4 minutes or until the nuts are toasted and the mixture is fragrant.
• Add raisins, orange rind and juice.
• Cook on high for 1 minute.
• Add the nut mixture and coriander to the rice and stir gently to combine.
• Taste and season with salt and pepper.

Steps:

• Whisk 1/4 cup olive oil, garlic, turmeric, cumin seeds, salt, and pepper together in a bowl and pour into a resealable plastic bag or container. Add chicken, coat with the paste and seal bag or container. Marinate in the refrigerator, 4 hours to overnight.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Add onion; cook and stir until soft and translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove chicken from marinade, discarding marinade. Add chicken thighs skin-side down to stockpot and cook until browned, about 4 minutes. Flip chicken thighs and cook until browned on second side, about 3 minutes more.
• Lower heat to medium and add water to cover chicken halfway, cover stockpot, and cook for 20 minutes. Uncover stockpot, sprinkle saffron threads onto chicken, and top with preserved lemon slices. Replace cover and cook until chicken is no longer pink at the bone and juices run clear, about 5 minutes more. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Uncover stockpot and transfer chicken to a serving platter.
• Continue simmering liquid in stockpot until thickened to sauce consistency, 5 to 7 minutes. Spoon sauce over chicken; top with olives, artichokes, and parsley.

Steps:

• Melt 1 teaspoon butter in small skillet over medium heat. Add pine nuts; sauté until golden, about 5 minutes. Cool.
• Melt remaining 2 teaspoons butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Add rice and stir 2 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups water, raisins, sugar, salt, saffron and cardamom. Bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until rice is tender, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat; let stand covered 10 minutes. Stir in pine nuts.