Saffron water (kesar ka paani) is the perfect cool or warm beverage made using just three ingredients. It's culinary liquid gold, perfect as a standalone drink and used to enhance rice dishes and desserts.
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Saffron water is known for its vibrant color and makes a great alternative to caffeinated drinks.
💌 Why I Love This Recipe
- Tried & tested to perfection.
- Simplified to make it beginner-friendly.
- Used to enhance the flavor of other dishes - sweet or savory.
- Perfect in cocktails or mocktails.
- Thanks to its star ingredient (saffron), it may have health benefits (Source: Healthline).
🛒 Ingredients
- Water: I simply used tap water, which I boiled in a kettle before adding it to the saffron. You can use filtered water if preferred.
- Sugar: A very small amount of sugar helps enhance the flavor and makes the grinding process a breeze.
- Saffron Threads: You can find them in large supermarkets (either in the spices or in the baking section), specialty food markets, or online. It's known for its high price tag, but a little goes a long way. High-quality saffron should be deep red.
🥄 What is saffron?
Saffron is a Middle Eastern spice known for its bright color, unique flavor, and numerous health benefits.
It has reportedly been cherished since ancient times. It's popular both for its culinary versatility and potential medicinal properties.
It may help with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and is used in various ways to improve mood swings and mental health symptoms, thanks to its potential antidepressant properties (Source: Healthline).
Saffron is a rich source of riboflavin which helps support your immune system (Source: WebMD).
It's a powerful antioxidant and incredibly difficult to harvest, which explains its high price.
In this post, we'll learn how to craft a simple yet powerful beverage that's as delicious as it is versatile.
🔪 Equipment
- Saucepan or kettle - for preparing the boiled water
- Mug / heatproof glass - for making & serving
- Pestle and mortar (optional) - for grinding saffron
- Glass or container - for storing
👣 Step-by-Step
Note: The following is a simplified overview of the process. Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for detailed instructions.
Grind. Use a pestle and mortar* to grind the saffron strands until they're powdery.
Boil. Boil a cup of water (in a kettle or a small saucepan).
Combine & Steep. Add ground saffron to hot water. Cover and let it steep for at least 10-15 minutes to release its orange-yellow color.
Strain & serve. Strain the water through a fine-mesh sieve. Pour into a serving glass or mug. Serve with a lemon wedge and ice cubes (optional).
You can enjoy saffron water hot or cold.
*No pestle and mortar? No problem! Simply rub the saffron strands between your fingers. Try to get them as powdery as possible. Then add saffron to sugar and mix until combined.
🍚 Uses of Saffron Water
Here are some of the best ways to use saffron water.
- Morning Elixir: Start your day with a healthy glass to hydrate your body.
- Saffron Rice: Substitute some of the cooking water with saffron water for a fragrant and vibrant rice dish (like biryani, paella, or risotto).
- Saffron Couscous: Same as above - use it to enhance the color & flavor profile of couscous.
- Infused Broth: Add saffron water to the broth when making soups or stews.
- Infused Vinaigrette: Whisk saffron water with extra virgin olive oil, vinegar, brown sugar, and seasonings. Drizzle it over salads or use it as a marinade for grilled vegetables or tofu.
- Saffron Milk: I like adding it to oat milk and enjoying it either hot or cooled.
- Infused Desserts: Use it to flavor desserts like cakes, pies, pastries, ice cream, and puddings. It pairs especially well with nuts and citrus fruits.
- Coloring Agent: Use it as a natural coloring in desserts, drinks, or savory dishes.
👨🍳 Tips
- Top it. Garnish it with additional saffron strands for an extra pop of color. You can also add a lemon wedge or some ice cubes.
- Keep it Covered: Cover the container while the saffron is steeping. This will prevent the aroma from escaping and preserve more flavor.
- Freeze it. For a refreshing option, freeze saffron water into ice cubes and add them to drinks or desserts.
- Variations. Experiment with adding lemon juice, mint, or some sweetener. See more ideas below
🍋 Variations
- Saffron Lemon Water: Add freshly squeezed lemon juice to saffron-infused water for a citrusy twist. This enhances the flavor and adds a boost of vitamin C.
- Saffron Rose Water: Combine with a splash of rose water for a fragrant and floral-infused beverage. This also makes an excellent base for mocktails.
- Saffron Cardamom Water: Infuse it with a pinch of ground cardamom for a spicier version. Enjoy it with some freshly baked cardamom buns on a cozy weekend.
- Saffron Mint Water: Add fresh mint leaves to saffron water for a refreshing twist. Remember to rub the mint leaves between your fingers first to release more flavor and aroma.
- Saffron Ginger Water: Infuse it with grated ginger for a zesty variation. Pour it through a fine-mesh sieve before serving to remove any ginger bits.
- Saffron Maple Syrup Water: Sweeten it with a drizzle of agave or maple syrup (or honey for non-vegans).
- Saffron Coconut Water: Instead of using just water, infuse the saffron strands in some coconut water. This is a perfect tropical variation for warmer days.
🍯 Saffron Syrup
For a sweeter and more concentrated version, try making a simple saffron syrup.
Add saffron-infused water and brown or granulated sugar to a small pan.
Bring to a boil and let simmer gently until it thickens.
This creates a gorgeous syrup, perfect for sweetening beverages and desserts. Another great way to use it is as a base for mocktails.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
You can drink saffron water any time of the day - morning, afternoon, or evening. Some prefer drinking it on an empty stomach first thing in the morning instead of tea or coffee.
Large amounts of saffron can cause food poisoning - doses of over 5 grams (Source: WebMD).
As the saffron in this beverage is very diluted, you are very unlikely to exceed this amount.
However, it is always best to exercise caution and not drink excessive amounts (e.g., several liters daily).
📦 Storage
Saffron water is best enjoyed fresh, but you can store it in an airtight container. Refrigerate it for up to 3 days.
👋 Conclusion
In conclusion, saffron water is a delicious addition to your culinary repertoire and a powerful elixir with myriad health benefits.
Enjoyed making saffron water? Please consider leaving a star rating or comment below.
Do you have questions about any element of this process? Simply get in touch with any questions below. After all, saffron is the world's most expensive spice so we don't want this recipe to go wrong!
🍴Recipe
How To Make Saffron Water: Recipe, Benefits and Use
EQUIPMENT
- Saucepan or kettle
- Mug / heatproof glass
- Pestle and mortar optional
- Airtight container optional
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 pinch saffron threads about ¼ tsp
INSTRUCTIONS
- Grind It. Use a pestle and mortar* to grind the saffron strands with sugar until they're as powdery as possible.1 pinch saffron threads, 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- Boil It. Boil a cup of water (in a kettle or a small saucepan).1 cup water
- Combine & Steep. Add ground saffron to hot water. Cover and let it steep for at least 10-15 minutes to release its orange-yellow color. The longer you let it steep, the more intense will the drink be.
- Strain & serve. Strain the water through a fine-mesh sieve. Pour into a serving glass or mug. Serve with a lemon wedge and ice cubes (optional).
Notes
Nutrition
Disclaimer: The nutritional information above is calculated automatically. The author of this post cannot guarantee 100% accuracy of this data.
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