Saffron Rice with Dried Cranberries and Almonds

Let's face it, dried cranberries are just plain delicious

Aaaaand healthy too because just ¼ cup equals ½ cup serving of fruit. It goes without saying that they also add great taste and texture to ANY recipe. So, what about those textures? Well, if you're anything like me, you'll love the texture varieties in this dish. Soft dried cranberries, crunchy almonds. My taste buds are thinking: saffron with rice, YEAH! And finally, the visual contrast: yellow saffron rice, and deep red dried cranberries with sprinklings of toasted slivered almonds. So pretty!

By the way, today's saffron recipe with dried cranberries and almonds is a take on a Persian rice dish (Albalou Polow) that is made with sour cherries. So, I decided to improvise and use dried cranberries instead. Why not? Cooking is about experimenting and mixing things up a bit, right? Also, I used basmati rice because it is very aromatic and furthermore it is the traditional rice used in Albalou Polow.

What does saffron taste like?

Saffron by nature is subtle. Other than the brilliant yellow color, the flavor is lightly sweet and aromatic. If you're making dishes that specifically call for it like paella or bouillabaisse, it's a must.  

Next, making saffron rice with dried cranberries and almonds is so easy because you only need a few ingredients. First, begin by placing the rice in the pot, add water, salt, saffron, and oil. Stir. Bring to a boil. turn down the heat and cook for about 15-20 minutes. While the rice is cooking you need to saute the shallots, and almonds, and then add them to the cooked rice. Finally, toss to mix, and then add the dried cranberries. That's it!!!

Give this saffron rice with dried cranberries and almonds a try, and let me know what you think because I REALLY want to hear your input. 

If you want to try more delicious dishes with from my blog. I definitely recommend the following: 

Moroccan Saffron Chicken Tagine - This North African dish has the amazing aromatic taste of saffron and is amazingly easy to make.

Creamy Cauliflower Soup With Saffron - This low-carb and creamy soup just got an aromatic  upgrade with the addition of saffron. Try it this week. 

Chicken in Creamy Saffron Sauce - This decadent dish can come together in less than 30-minutes. Your taste buds will be amazed. 

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Saffron Rice with Craisins and Almonds

Try this delicious Persian style saffron rice with almonds and Craisins or dried cranberries brings a contrast of flavors and textures. This is similar to the dish Albaloo Polow.

5 from 1 vote

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Course: Side

Cuisine: American

Keyword: easy rice dish, exotic flavors, Persian style rice

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 servings

Calories: 183kcal

Author: Analida Braeger

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups basmati rice
• 2 ½ cups water
• 1 tsp Kosher salt
• 1 tsp saffron
• 3 tsp olive oil
• 2 shallots minced
• ¼ cup almonds slivered
• ¼ cup cranberries, dried Ocean Spray® Craisins®

Instructions

• Place basmati rice in pot, and add the water, salt, saffron, and 1 tsp. of olive oil. Stir well, and bring to a boil. Turn down heat, cover and cook for 15-20 minutes. Remove from heat, fluff, and cover again until ready to use.
• In a non stick skillet heat the remaining olive oil, and saute the shallots and the almonds, until they begin to brown slightly.
• Add the shallots and almond to the rice and toss. Finally, mix in the Craisins®.
• Sprinkle with parsley.

Nutrition

Calories: 183kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 4g | Sodium: 297mg | Potassium: 92mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 0.5mg