Easy Zafrani Pulao Recipe | Indian Saffron rice

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Easy Zafrani Pulao Recipe | How to make Zafrani Pulao | Indian Saffron Rice. It is a delicious aromatic pilaf flavoured with saffron and whole spices which is extremely light on palate and heavy on flavours. This simple quick and easy zafrani pulao recipe pair very well with any Indian curries like paneer butter masala or shahi paneer ot matar paneer. This zafrani rice is on the go for us anytime, be it weekend dinners with family or to serve it to the guests. I promise, this recipe will never ever disappoint you. Here is how to make zafrani pulao at home....

You all must be wondering how could Indian Saffron Rice be so easy to cook. yeah! it is one of the most easiest pilaf I have ever made. All you need is throw in all the ingredients in a pot and cook, its done and the outcome is just brilliant. This is an immensely consistent recipe on our table whenever I have guest at my home, it embraces any curry or dal tadka marvellously. This easiest saffron rice recipe has made me win with loads of plaudits not only from family but all my guest too. Once you start making this, making zafrani pulao will be an easiest affair to make for any parties, festivals or any special occasions-A win win pilaf! 🙂

What is Zafrani Pulao?

The word Zafrani means "flavoured with saffron". Zafrani pulao recipe is an Indian aromatic rich rice dish or pilaf flavoured with saffron and spices.Hence, the name Indian Saffron Rice.

Sometimes the zaffrani pulao is flavoured with dry fruits and nuts also. Most of the time, you will see, people do add saffron colour to the dish in context to the word zafrani.

However, the authenticity of any zafrani dish is only due to the addition of saffron or kesar and not the color.

Important Tips To Make Best Zafrani Pulao Recipe:

To make authentic zafrani pulao, always use best quality long grain basmati rice. Secondly, do not forget to soak rice for 45 minutes before cooking the pulao. The more the soaking time the better will be rice.After the rice cooks, always allow it to rest for 8-10 minutes and then fluff up the rice with fork. Do not fluff it up immediately after it cooks, as it will break the grains of the rice. If you wish to make vegan saffron rice pilaf recipe, then, swap ghee with oil and soak the saffron in water instead of milk.

To make it as easy zafrani pulao recipe with dryfruits and nuts, just fry the nuts of your choice in ghee and top it over the rice while serving.Do not skip the garnish of birista or golden fried onions as it enhances the appeal and taste of the rice pulao. You can make them in bulk and freeze, here is the link.

Can we make zafrani pulao recipe ahead of time?

Yes, we can make rice pilaf ahead of time and even refrigerate it. Ricerice pilaf stays good in refrigerator for 2-3 days. You can reheat it in a microwave and serve it as and when in need.

Can Zafrani Pulao be frozen?

Yes, we can freeze saffron rice pilaf in clean air tight container. Saffron rice an also be frozen in portions. All you need to do it, thaw at the counter and re heat it in a microwave whenever you wish to eat it. It is as good as the freshly made saffron rice.

Easy Zafrani Pulao Ingredients:

As the recipe I am sharing below is quick and easy zafrani pulao recipe hardly require any exotic ingredients apart from saffron or zafran. All we need for this easy zafran pulao recipe is good long grain basmati rice. Then, the other ingredients we need here are, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, bay leaf, ghee, salt and water. Do follow the steps and make best saffron rice pilaf recipe recipe in minutes.

What to serve with zafrani pulao?

You can serve zaffrani pulao with any Indian curries and even with the curries from different cuisines around the world. Serve it with methi chicken or chicken kali mirch, gosht korma, Dal Makhani, Paneer Pasanda,Paneer Butter Masalaand many more dishes of your choice.

Some the best Pulao Recipes you may love to try:

Lucknowi Yakhni Pulao

Step by Step Indian Saffron Rice Recipe below:

📖 Recipe

4.41 from 5 votes

Zafrani Pulao Recipe

Zafrani Pulao is one of the easiest aromatic rice recipe. It is absolutely light on palate and heavy on flavours. Serve zafrani rice with any Indian veg or non veg curries. Here is how to make easy zafrani pulao at home...

Course Main Course

Cuisine Indian

Prep Time 45 minutes minutes

Ingredients

to prepare zafrani pulao:

▢ 2 cups good quality long grain basmati( biryani/pulao) rice, (soaked for 45 minutes)
▢ 3 green cardamom
▢ 4-5 cloves
▢ 1 inch stick of cinnamon
▢ 3 green cardamom
▢ 2 tablespoons ghee
▢ A generous pinch of good quality saffron soaked in 4 tablespoon of milk
▢ 3 ½ cup water
▢ salt to taste
▢ Golden fried onions for garnish
▢ coriander leaves ( for garnish)
▢ 1 bay leaf

Instructions

To begin with, in a heavy bottom pot, add soaked and strained rice, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, bay leaf, ghee, and salt
Then, add water and mix everything.Place the pot on the heat and bring it to boil. Once water starts boiling, give it a gentle stir so that ghee gets mixed evenly
Cook until water dries up and the rice is done to 90%
Now, once the rice is cooked to 90%. then pour saffron soaked milk on the top, Cover and simmer until done.
Once cooked, fluff up the rice very gently using fork
Dish out and garnish with fried onions and chopped coriander leaves.Delicious easy zafrani pulao is ready to be served.

Nutrition

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How to make Zafrani Pulao step by step:

preparation of zafrani Rice:

First soak the saffron in milk for couple of hours. To begin with, in a heavy bottom pot, add soaked and strained rice, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, bay leaf, ghee, and salt

3. Then, add water and mix everything.Place the pot on the heat and bring it to boil. Once water starts boiling, give it a gentle stir so that ghee mixes evenly.