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Saffron low carb recipes

EllieM

EllieM

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OK, my saffron crocuses have come up and I'm harvesting their little red threads/stigmas. I've never cooked with saffron before and most of the web suggestions involve rice or pasta.

Does anyone have any suggestions/recommendations for low carb saffron dishes? I guess I could do cauliflower saffron???
 
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If you Google low carb saffron recipes lots of nice things come up. Saffron chicken, as you say saffron cauliflower also saffron is nice in puddings, pannacotta, low carb custards - I consider you a very rich Ellie as saffron is more expensive than gold. Anywhere I ever worked we kept it away from the kitchen and had to be requested by the chef
 
lovinglife said:
I consider you a very rich Ellie as saffron is more expensive than gold.
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All my childhood, as far as I remember, my mother had a tiny little box with a few saffron thingies. Very much forbidden for me because they were so expensive.
I don't think she ever used them, saving them for something special for decades! :hilarious:
 
EllieM said:
OK, my saffron crocuses have come up and I'm harvesting their little red threads/stigmas. I've never cooked with saffron before and most of the web suggestions involve rice or pasta.

Does anyone have any suggestions/recommendations for low carb saffron dishes? I guess I could do cauliflower saffron???
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Is that a specific kind of crocus or ones you’ve “ designated” for that use? What a treat. Paella comes to mind first but with cauliflower rice.
 
MommaE said:
Is that a specific kind of crocus or ones you’ve “ designated” for that use? What a treat. Paella comes to mind first but with cauliflower rice.
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Antje77 said:
You cannot use just any crocus for saffron!
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Here is a link for saffron growing and what type.

Saffron, yeah
I'm just-a mad about her
I'm-a just-a mad about-a saffron
She's just mad about me
They call it mellow yellow (Quite rightly)
They call me mellow yellow (Quite rightly)
They call me mellow yellow
Oh, so yellow...

Thank you Donovan for the song.

https://greenharvest.com.au/Plants/Information/SaffronCrocus.html
 
MommaE said:
s that a specific kind of crocus or ones you’ve “ designated” for that use? What a treat. Paella comes to mind first but with cauliflower rice.
Click to expand...


No, they are real saffron flowers, my husband bought me 100 bulbs for Christmas (from a reputable nursery selling all sorts of exotic seeds and heirloom vegetables) and I planted them a couple of months ago. So far I've had 23 flowers but there are lots that haven't flowered yet. According to google you need 150,000 flowers to make a 1kg of saffron so I reckon I'll get between .5g and 1g if I'm lucky...

I don't think it's a money making exercise but I am excited to have my own saffron.

I'm going to be so disappointed if it doesn't taste good...
 
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EllieM said:
No, they are real saffron flowers, my husband bought me 100 bulbs for Christmas (from a reputable nursery selling all sorts of exotic seeds and heirloom vegetables) and I planted them a couple of months ago. So far I've had 23 flowers but there are lots that haven't flowered yet. According to google you need 150,000 flowers to make a 1kg of saffron so I reckon I'll get between .5g and 1g if I'm lucky...

I don't think it's a money making exercise but I am excited to have my own saffron.

I'm going to be so disappointed if it doesn't taste good...
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According to my Google search just 24 plants will provide sufficient saffron for several meals in their first year and more in subsequent years. Sounds like a winning proposition, and an excellent Christmas gift.
 
I’ve used saffron anywhere I’d use chicken or vegetable bouillon.
Take a few strands and let them bloom in a little hot water.
I brown chicken, remove it from the pan. Deglazed the pan with saffron water and add any flavours you’ll like.
 
@EllieM , thank you so much!
I needed a birthday present for a friend and I've been trying to think of something for days without success. Your thread solved the problem. :)

I tried to find bulbs first, but they don't sell them this time of year. But a pretty little tin of saffron is a very nice present too!

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Turmeric is the poor man’s saffron, used by many establishments to get the delicate colour but not the delicate flavour
 
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