How to Bloom Saffron (in Hot Water or Over Ice)
Most recipes call for you to "bloom" the saffron before you use it. Here are the best two ways to do it.
Servings: 1
Calories: 0.2kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pinch saffron
- 2 tbsp hot water or ice
Instructions
- Grind the threads using a mortar and pestle until fine.1 pinch saffron
- Hot water: Pour 2 tablespoons of hot water over the saffron and leave to steep for 5 minutes.Ice: Add ice cubes, approximately 2 tablespoons of water worth, over the saffron and leave to allow to melt. This can take up to 1 hour if using two cubes.2 tbsp hot water
- Add the infused saffron liquid to your rice, stews, or desserts. This is usually added towards the end of cooking to preserve the saffron's color and aroma.
Notes
See the blog post for more details, but here is the gist: After testing both methods, I found that there wasn't a significant difference in the results. The saffron steeped over ice was only slightly more aromatic and brightly colored. So my conclusion is that if I have the time, I'll use ice, but if not, I'll use hot water and not feel even a little bad about it.
Nutrition
Calories: 0.2kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.03g | Protein: 0.01g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 1mg | Vitamin A: 0.3IU | Vitamin C: 0.04mg | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 0.01mg
