Taste of Fall: Saffron-Infused Biryan

Name: Taste of Fall: Saffron-Infused Biryan
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 6 serving(s)
Ingredients: 5 -6 saffron strands; 1 pinch sugar; 2 tablespoons hot water; 2 medium onions, chopped; 2 tablespoons mixed spice; 2 lbs ground meat (optional) or 1 1/2 cups quinoa, cooked; 3 cups basmati rice; 4 cups water; 5 tablespoons biryani spice mix; 1 head cauliflower; 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced; 3 -4 garlic cloves, smashed; 1 cup green beans; 2 tomatoes; 3 large carrots; 3 zucchini; 1/2 cup cashews or 1/2 cup almonds; 1/3 cup frozen peas; 1/4 cup cilantro

Submitted by CocointheKitchen

"Biryani hails from the exotic East. Rice is the foundation, fluffed up with layers of dried fruits, nuts, vegetables, meat, rich in flavor with a signature sauce. The warmth of the spices in this cozy dish is so comforting now that Fall is starting to show its face."

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Ready In:: 45mins
Ingredients:: 19
Serves:: 6

ingredients

5 -6 saffron strands
1 pinch sugar
2 tablespoons hot water
2 medium onions, chopped
2 tablespoons mixed spice
2 lbs ground meat (optional) or 1 1/2 cups quinoa, cooked
3 cups basmati rice
4 cups water
5 tablespoons biryani spice mix
1 head cauliflower
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
3 -4 garlic cloves, smashed
1 cup green beans
2 tomatoes
3 large carrots
3 zucchini
¹⁄₂ cup cashews or 1/2 cup almonds
¹⁄₃ cup frozen peas
¹⁄₄ cup cilantro

directions

Thoroughly grind the saffron threads with the sugar.
Add the hot water and allow the saffron to steep and become fragrant.
Cook the rice in water, biryani paste and saffron.
While the rice is cooking, clean, trim and cut vegetables into bite-sized pieces.
Brown the onion in a bit of olive oil and salt. Add turmeric, ground meat, if any, or quinoa and brown for another 10 minutes or so.
Once the water has been absorbed (~10 mins), gently fold the vegetables (all but the peas) and meat/quinoa into the rice and cover the pot. Reduce the heat and allow the vegetables to cook (~20-30 mins).
Turn off the heat and gently mix the frozen peas into the rice.
Sprinkle few sprigs of fresh coriander (cilantro) and crunchy toasted cashews on top for a sexy finish.

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RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

CocointheKitchen

Los Angeles, 43

4 Recipes

I?m actually pretty lazy. I work hard only because we can?t afford a butler. My favorite kitchen gadget is a plumber?s torch. I don?t like sharing my chocolate, unless I really like you. Grocery-shopping is my exercise regimen. Your stilton is safe with me, but your parmesan isn?t. Real Fossil is better than fake Gucci. I?m a breast-cancer survivor. Here I am, getting my hair done for the first time since finishing treatment! I kiss my daughter too much, but she doesn?t complain that much. I am nuts about shoes and I buy them for people I love. I?m Armenian, born in Iran, raised in the States. The kitchen is my favorite room in the house. All photos and content, including the logo on this site are my own original work. I don?t have staff. Daisy inspired the logo for my site, which I did by hand using MS Paint. Contact me if you?re interested in a custom design. I love Massive Attack, Albinoni and J Majik. If I ever won the lottery, I would travel the world over and over again. Gigi, The Quiet Man, The Taming of the Shrew, Moonstruck and My Big Fat Greek Wedding are my favorite movies. Favorite reading material: Magazines and blogs

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