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Saffron Fried Rice

Two weeks ago, we received the package sent by Mommy’s friend who lives in New Jersey. She traveled on several countries last month and was excited to share with Mom what she got from those places she visited.

One item that I am most interested in is the saffron. She sent us two kinds of it: one bought in Turkey, a saffron thread, and the other one in Greece, a powdered saffron.

My mind raced on ideas on how to use this new ingredient in my cooking. I first tried the saffron from Turkey. In one of my food experiment, this is what I came up with: Saffron Fried Rice

The yellow color of the rice was the effect of saffron. I sautéed separately the potato, carrots and onion and then pan grilled the marinated pork [marinade=Lea & Perrins worcestershire sauce, little soy sauce, olive oil, less than a pinch of salt and pepper]. After cooking all the ingredients, I started on the fried rice and then put saffron on it, the cooked vegetables, the remaining marinade and the shredded bok choy (Chinese cabbage). I served it with the chopped grilled pork on top as shown on the photo.

How does it taste? Overall, of course, I'll say exquisite! The taste of saffron is unique. Honestly, right now I am trying to think of other spices to compare it with but its taste is...saffron. But definitely it won't stand out if mixed with too much dried basil or thyme or oregano or even salty flavor. So far, these are "the don't" I've learned from my food experiments with saffron.

Hmmm...while eating, I thought of Indian cuisine. I thought of turmeric and curry because it has some tiny kicks on the tongue but definitely, taste is incomparable. Mom said it's Mediterranean though we haven't tasted such food. The only thing we have in the house are photos of Mediterranean food. Anyway, Mom informed me that the taste would even more stronger if next time I try the powdered saffron from Greece. That is according to the research she got from the net.

Certainly, I’ll try my cooking skill on the powdered saffron next time.

By the way, we ended our meal with Japanese green tea and hazel nut flavored Turkish delight. How I wish I could share these food to all of you.

To taste is to believe.