Saffron Basmati Rice With Candied Barberries Recipes

CRUNCHY BAKED SAFFRON RICE WITH BARBERRIES (TACHIN)

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add 2 large palmfuls of salt (about 1/2 cup). While you're waiting for the water to boil, place rice in a strainer or sieve and rinse with lukewarm water, swishing rice around with your hands to get rid of excess starch. Continue to rinse until water from rice runs clear.
• Add rice to pot and give it a few stirs to prevent rice from sticking to the bottom. Cook, stirring occasionally, until rice begins to rise to the top and is tender but still has a slight bite to it, 6-8 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water.
• Meanwhile, melt butter in a medium skillet over medium-low heat. Cook barberries, stirring often, until plumped slightly and warmed through, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in rose water, if using.
• Place rack in lower third of oven; preheat to 400°F. Combine saffron and 2 Tbsp. hot water in a large bowl. Let sit 10 minutes to allow saffron to steep and draw out as much color as possible. Mix in egg yolks, yogurt, 1/2 cup oil, and 2 tsp. salt. Scatter rice over yogurt mixture and gently toss to ensure every grain is coated.
• Coat a 10"-diameter glass pie dish with oil (glass lets you check on the color from underneath). Add half of rice mixture and use the palms of your hands or a measuring cup to gently pack and compact rice into dish. Scatter half of barberries over and top with remaining rice. Press down again, this time more firmly (this helps with unmolding).
• Cover dish tightly with foil and bake until rice on the bottom and around edges is a deep golden brown, 65-80 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes; discard foil. Loosen the rice around the edges using the point of a knife. Place a large plate on top and invert rice onto plate like a cake. Scatter remaining barberries over top.

SAFFRON BASMATI RICE WITH CANDIED BARBERRIES

Steps:

• Wash the rice with cool water in a large bowl. Strain it using a large colander and rinse it in cold water.
• Add 14 cups of water and the salt to a 7.5-quart nonstick pot over high heat and to bring to boil. Taste the water; it should be very salty (like pasta water). Add the washed rice and mix so it doesn't stick. Cook uncovered on medium heat until it is al dente, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Drain the rice in a large colander and rinse quickly with cold water. Shake the colander to remove the excess water.
• Pour 1/2 cup of the oil in the same pot and heat it until hot but not smoky. Add the turmeric and swirl. Put about 1/5 of the rice back in the pot and press gently until it forms a crust at the bottom. Pour the rest of the rice back in the pot without pressing so it is fluffy. Try to pour it in the center of the pot so as it settles down it creates a hilltop in the middle. Use the end of a wooden spoon to poke 6 to 8 holes into the rice to allow for steaming.
• Cover the pot and cook on medium-low heat until the rice starts steaming, 5 to 8 minutes. Open the lid, cover the pot with a clean kitchen towel to catch the moisture, then place the lid back on and cook on low heat for 45 to 50 minutes.
• Add the remaining 1/3 cup oil and the drained barberries to a small skillet and saute on medium heat, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the sugar and keep mixing for a few minutes until the sugar dissolves. Turn off the heat.
• Take 1 cup of cooked rice out of the pot and mix it with the saffron water; set it aside.
• Pour the butter all over the remaining rice still in the pot. Place a 12-inch or larger serving platter upside down on top of the pot, hold the pot handles and the platter on both sides and with one motion flip over the pot. All the rice should fall on the platter like a cake with the crispy side on top.
• Garnish with the barberries and the reserved saffron rice.
• Add the saffron to 1/4 cup of room temperature water in a water glass or coffee mug, mix well. Leave it aside for 2 hours.