Saffron

Safran

What it is

Each crocus flower gives three red threads, picked by hand at dawn before the sun wilts them; a gram costs about a hundred and fifty flowers. It has been worth more than gold for most of recorded history — the only spice measured like jewellery.

In the kitchen

Steep the threads in warm water or stock for twenty minutes before using — thrown in dry, half their perfume never wakes up.

Goes with

Rice Shrimp Cod Chicken Cardamom Orange Honey

Also used with

Basmati rice Brown scorpionfish Camargue red rice Carabinero prawn European conger Scallop coral

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