Saffron Aïoli Recipes

Steps:

• Place saffron in a small bowl with water; set aside.
• Use a mortar and pestle to mash garlic and a pinch of salt to a fine paste. Add mustard and incorporate. Add egg yolks and mix well. Add saffron-water mixture and stir to incorporate. Slowly add half the oil, drop by drop at first, and then in a slow steady stream, while mixing with the pestle. (Thin with about a tablespoon of warm water if mixture is too thick.) Continue incorporating oil until all of it is absorbed. Thin with additional water if needed, and season with salt to taste.

Steps:

• Make the potatoes: Put the potatoes in a large pot; cover with water by 1 inch and season with salt. Bring to a boil, then simmer until tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Drain the potatoes on a kitchen towel-lined baking sheet; let cool.
• Working in two batches, fry the potatoes in 365˚ vegetable oil until crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain on paper towels.
• Meanwhile, make the aïoli: Soak the saffron in 3 tablespoons hot water, 10 minutes. Puree in a blender with the egg yolks, garlic, lemon juice, mustard and a pinch of salt.With the blender on high speed, slowly add the vegetable and olive oil and blend until thick and smooth, adding a few drops of water if needed; season with salt.
• Sprinkle the potatoes with salt and smoked paprika and drizzle with the saffron aïoli.

Steps:

• Steep the saffron threads in warm water for about 10 minutes. Drain water, but don't allow threads to dry out.
• Combine mayonnaise, and lemon juice with a wire whisk, mixing together until uniform.
• Add pressed garlic, only 1/2 of saffron threads, 1 teaspoon of saffron powder, and 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper and continue to mix once again until uniform in texture.
• Use remaining saffron threads to garnish aioli in a small ramekin, bowl, or directly on top of food. Serve cool to slightly below room temperature.

Steps:

• Combine garlic, potato, Dijon mustard, infused saffron, red wine vinegar and water in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth and add olive oil slowly to emulsify. Adjust seasonings with salt, pepper, and lemon juice.;

Steps:

• To make the aioli: Lightly sprinkle the garlic with a pinch of the salt and smash it into a paste with the side of a cook's knife. Set aside.
• Pour about 2 inches of water into a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
• In a medium, heatproof bowl, whisk together the remaining salt, egg yolk, vinegar, water, lemon juice, and saffron until light and frothy. Place the bowl over the simmering water and whisk constantly until the yolk mixture is just warmer than room temperature, about 20 seconds. Remove from the heat and whisk in the garlic paste.
• While whisking constantly, gradually drizzle in the olive oil until a smooth and slightly thick sauce is formed. Store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
• Meanwhile, make the sweet potatoes: Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 425 degrees F.
• Put a baking sheet on the center rack and preheat for 10 minutes.
• Quarter the sweet potatoes and leave the skins on. In a large bowl, toss the wedges with the olive oil. Carefully remove the hot baking sheet from the oven and place the wedges evenly spaced on the pan, cut-side down. Bake until the bottoms of the potatoes are lightly browned, about 15 minutes.
• Carefully remove the hot baking sheet from the oven. Turn the wedges so the other cut side comes in contact with the hot baking sheet. Continue to bake the sweet potatoes until both sides are browned and tender, about 15 minutes more.
• To serve, arrange the sweet potatoes on a platter, and season with salt, to taste. Drizzle the potatoes with some of the aioli. Serve warm.
• Cook's Note: We recommend golden olive oil for its smooth finish and low acidity. The golden color comes from olive pressed at the peak of ripeness. These oils are made on California, southern France, and Sicily.
• Copyright 2001 Television Food Network, GP. All rights reserved
• *RAW EGG WARNING
• Food Network Kitchens suggest caution in consuming raw and lightly-cooked eggs due to the slight risk of Salmonella or other food-borne illness. To reduce this risk, we recommend you use only fresh, properly-refrigerated, clean, grade A or AA eggs with intact shells, and avoid contact between the yolks or whites and the shell.

Steps:

• In a small bowl pour 1 tbsp of boiling water over the saffron and set aside. Put the garlic, egg yolks and mustard into a food processor or blender. Blitz into a paste and very slowly dribble in the olive oil to make a thick mayonnaise-style sauce. When everything's come together add the saffron, saffron water and lemon juice, then season to taste. The aïoli will keep covered in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Steps:

• To make the aioli: In a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, combine the egg yolks, garlic clove, saffron and a pinch of salt. Whisk at high speed while adding the oil drop by drop. As the mixture thickens, increase the oil to a very thin trickle until it is used up and the aioli is thick and wobbly. Adjust the seasoning with a squeeze of lemon juice and more salt, if needed.
• To make the paella: In a large deep-sided frying pan or paella pan with a lid, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until soft and golden, about 15 minutes.
• Coarsely grate the tomatoes, cut side down, until only the skin remains. Discard the skins. There should be about 2 cups.
• Stir the tomatoes, peppers, bay leaves and paprika into the onion. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until no liquid remains, about 15 minutes. Add the stock, bring to a boil and pour in the rice. Stir and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring a few times to prevent sticking.
• Add the peas, squid, mussels or clams, and shrimp, incorporating everything into the rice. Simmer over low heat until nearly all the liquid has disappeared, about 10 minutes. Cover with a lid, remove from heat and rest for 5 to 10 minutes more. Scatter with parsley and cool. Serve with the saffron aioli and lemon wedges.

Steps:

• Stir together saffron and water in a small bowl until saffron begins to dissolve (threads will still be intact). Transfer saffron mixture to a food processor along with remaining ingredients except oil, then pulse until combined. With motor running, add oil in a thin, steady stream until aïoli is thickened and emulsified. Transfer to a bowl and chill, covered, until ready to use.

Steps:

• Put egg yolks, garlic, and saffron into a food processor; season with salt and pepper. Process until smooth. With processor running, gradually add oil, drop by drop at first, then in a slow, steady stream, until a thick mayonnaise forms. Mix in lemon juice. Transfer to a small dish. Serve at room temperature; do not leave unrefrigerated longer than 1 hour. Aïoli can be refrigerated, covered, up to 2 days.

Steps:

• For the aïoli, rehydrate the saffron in 1 tbsp boiling water. In a small food processor, blitz the egg yolks, a large pinch of salt, the mustard, garlic cloves and lemon juice until emulsified. With the blades still going, very slowly pour in the extra virgin oil in steady drops, increasing to a stream once it starts emulsifying. If it splits, just add a squeeze of lemon and blitz again - it will come together. Once the olive oil is incorporated, slowly pour in the vegetable or sunflower oil, blitzing the whole time, then add the saffron and its water. Blitz until creamy, then season and chill for at least 3 hrs. Will keep for up to two days in the fridge.
• To make the fries, cut the courgettes in half widthways. Cut each half into three thick slices, and each slice into chip-like wedges, about the size and thickness of oven chips. Tip the rice and polenta flours into a bowl with ½ tsp salt, the fennel seeds and cayenne, and stir. In another bowl, whisk the egg white until frothy. Coat the courgette strips in the egg white, then dip into the flours. Lay on a plate. Heat the olive oil over a medium to high heat, then fry the courgettes until crisp and golden all over (about 4-6 mins) - you may need to do this in batches. Drain on kitchen paper and season.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Take the fish out of the fridge 30 mins before cooking to bring it up to room temperature. Put the fennel, bay leaf, tomatoes (keeping back four tomato slices for the mullet) and red pepper in a roasting tin and season. Drizzle over a little olive oil and roast for 10 mins. Remove from the oven and pour over the vermouth. Season the fish and rub with a little olive oil, then fill their cavities with the tomato slices and thyme, and lay them on top of the fennel mix. Cover with foil and roast for 30 mins (depending on the size of the fish), then remove the foil and roast for a further 5 mins.
• Transfer the fish to a plate and allow to rest under the foil. Return the tray with the peppers and fennel to the oven, along with the courgettes, for 5 mins. Serve with the fish, aïoli and lemon wedges.

Steps:

• Make aïoli:
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Wrap each garlic head in foil and roast until soft, about 1 hour. Unwrap and let cool. Peel cloves and set aside.
• In medium bowl, whisk together egg yolks and lemon. Set aside.
• Place 2 tablespoons hot water in small bowl. In small, dry skillet over moderate heat, toast saffron for 30 seconds. Stir into hot water, then fold saffron water into egg mixture.
• In blender, combine 4 tablespoons canola oil, raw garlic, roasted garlic, and salt. Blend on high speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add egg mixture and blend 1 more minute. With motor running, very slowly add olive oil and remaining canola oil in steady stream, and continue blending until thick, about 2 minutes. Set aside.
• Make tortilla:
• Preheat oven to 300°F
• In medium pot, combine potatoes and enough water to cover. Bring to boil, lower heat to moderately low, and cook, covered, until potatoes can be pierced with fork, about 5 minutes. Drain and set aside to cool.
• In small sauté pan, over moderate heat, sauté onions and garlic in vegetable oil until soft, about 5 minutes.
• In medium bowl, combine eggs, potatoes, onions, and garlic. Heat 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat and add egg mixture. Cook 4 minutes, then invert tortilla into ovenproof nonstick pan. Cover and bake until just set, about 10 minutes. Serve with saffron aïoli.

Steps:

• For aioli:
• Whisk yolks, 4 tablespoons orange juice, and saffron in medium metal bowl. Set bowl over saucepan of barely simmering water (do not let bowl touch water). Whisk until thickened and thermometer registers 160°F, about 4 minutes. Transfer to processor. Add orange peel and garlic. With machine running, gradually add oil in thin stream until incorporated, stopping to scrape down sides of bowl. Transfer to medium bowl. Whisk in lemon juice and 2 tablespoons orange juice. Thin with water by teaspoonfuls, if desired. Season with salt and pepper. Do ahead Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill.
• For brochettes:
• Thread 3 scallops on 1 skewer alternately with 2 bay leaves. Place on rimmed baking sheet. Repeat with remaining scallops, skewers, and bay leaves. Do ahead Can be prepared 2 hours ahead. Cover and chill. Sprinkle scallops with salt and pepper.
• Heat griddle or 2 heavy large skillets ssor grill pans over high heat; brush with oil. Cook scallops until brown and just opaque in center, about 2 minutes per side. Place 1 brochette on each of 8 plates. Drizzle scallops with aioli. Garnish with orange sections and chives.

Steps:

• Put saffron threads in a small cup, then add hot water and let stand 5 minutes.
• Purée saffron mixture with remaining ingredients in a mini food processor or a blender until smooth.

Steps:

• For aioli:
• Whisk vinegar, honey, and saffron threads in heavy small saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to boil. Remove from heat. Cool completely. Mix mayonnaise and garlic in medium bowl to blend. Mix in cooled vinegar mixture. Season aioli to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• For asparagus:
• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Toss asparagus with oil on rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill asparagus until crisp-tender, turning occasionally, about 5 minutes. Transfer to platter. Drizzle aioli over asparagus. Sprinkle with bell pepper.