Popular Indian Recipes with Saffron

Known as a zaffran or kesar, a small quantity is saffron is enough to add flavour, aroma and colour to any dish. Saffron is a very expensive spice, used to flavour and colour food. Saffron originated in the Middle East, but is now also associated with Greek, Indian and Spanish cuisines. In India, the saffron fields are seen in Kashmir.

Derived from the saffron crocus flower, this delicate spice adds a beautiful golden-yellow hue and a distinctive aroma and flavour to both sweet and savoury dishes like Kesar Peda , Kesar Suva Rice with Broccoli Sauce and Mawa Kesar Roll .

Mawa Kesar Roll, Khoya Kesar Roll

Diwali is here and it’s time to pull out all the stops! This is one time of the year where diets take a back seat and we indulge in rich, fragrant and flavoursome goodies, using the best and most exclusive ingredients we can lay our hands on. Prominent among these is saffron (kesar), one of the most expensive spices in the world!

Where cooking is concerned, a little goes a long way – just a few strands of saffron can transform dishes ranging from desserts to fragrant rich gravies and pulaos like Kesarwale Paneer Kofte ki Subzi , Dry Fruit Kesar Kulfi and Saffron Rice. Here are some suggestions that you can serve your guests this festive season.

Saffron Rice, Kesar Chawal

Enjoy our uses of saffron and saffron Idian recipes below.

1. Bengal’s famous Rasmalai, gets its beautiful yellow tinge with the addition of saffron. Rasgullas in saffron flavoured milk and garnished with almond and pistachio slivers is truly irresistible.

Rasmalai, Bengali Rasmalai Recipe

2. Ladoos are a very integral part of Indian Cooking. And Motichoor Ladoo is one such delicacy which needs no introduction. Learn how to make Motichoor Ladoo at home. Follow the recipe precisely and you are sure to get the market style ladoos.

Motichoor Ke Ladoo

3. Kesar Peda is a mawa based Indian mithai. Pedas are made during many festivals right from Diwali to Navratri and Janmashtami to Ganesh Chaturthi. These pedas make use of readymade mawa, saffron and sugar and are ready in 10 minutes. Surprised? Check it out in your own kitchen.

Kesar Peda

4. The famous Kaju Puri, which also uses about ½ tsp of kesar. That’s a lot in reality. Cashew powder, almond powder and sugar powdered and cooked and then rolled and baked is Kaju Puri. Do try this Popular Indian Sweet Recipe with Saffron.

Kaju Puri

5. Each one of you must have tasted Kesar Srikhand for sure. Made with hung curds and flavoured with cardamom and saffron, this Indian sweet pairs well with Puri and Aloo ki Subzi.

Shrikhand, Kesar Elaichi Shrikhand

6. Why talk only about sweets? Even starters like Tandoori Paneer Tikka makes use of saffron for that slight colour and flavour. The marinade along with besan, lemon juice and a host of other spices also has saffron in its list.

Tandoori Paneer Tikka

7. Come summer, the strong aroma of mangoes captivates your senses even as you enter the market. It is simply impossible to leave without buying some. And once you have some mangoes, do try the Mango Kulfi to beat the heat and satisfy your cravings for mange with a sweet note.

Mango Kulfi

8. The pretty looking and tempting Shahi Pulao has cashews, raisins, canned pineapple and paneer along with saffron strands to be portrayed as shahi. Quite easy to make once you have all the veggies boiled along with cooked rice. So assemble the ingredients and cook it just before serving.

Shahi Pulao

9. The famous Panha, a raw mango based drink, is lightly flavoured with saffron. You should definitely not miss out on this Popular Indian recipe with saffron. It is a drink famous to beat the scorching summer heat.

Panha, Aam Panna, Kairi Panha

10. Nawabi Kesar Kofta, from its name signposts the use of saffron in this recipe. Just a pinch of this spice is enough to add flavour to these koftas. The tangy gravy, flavoured with a rich paste of spices and nuts, adds to the luxurious feel of the koftas with its tongue-tickling flavour and luscious consistency. Try it out!

Nawabi Kesar Koftas