Rose's April Shop Watch: Saffron Threads

Saffron Threads

Seasoned Pioneers

What?
Whole 'La Mancha' Saffron Threads

Why?
Create a great store cupboard meal

We are all currently racking our brains to create meals out of nothing. As the Marsh family so wonderfully sang in their rendition of One Day from Les Misérables, there are no delivery slots from the supermarkets seemingly until September. But saffron is available from Seasoned Pioneers by post, and this can magically be turned into a risotto Milanese. You can even watch how this is made.

This dish makes a perfect store cupboard meal, with just a few ingredients: risotto rice (any supermarket brand will do, as will any variety, be it Arborio, Vialone Nano or Carnaroli); an onion, chicken stock (from a cube), a little white wine (although you could just add extra stock if you are keeping your precious supply for drinking), Parmesan (or, at a pinch, cheddar), butter and, of course, saffron. Although Delia says how good it is with Ossobuco (which it is) it is equally delicious as a meal in its own right. It is creamy, buttery and full of flavour. It is said that Leonardo da Vinci invented this dish in Milan when he accidentally dropped some of his saffron, which he was using to tint his paint a vibrant yellow, into his plain white risotto. Now this may be apocryphal but it adds colour (quite literally) to the dish!

The saffron threads, La Mancha, add what Seasoned Pioneers call “a delicate yet intensely warm, musky flavour with a sweet aroma.” Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world because it comes from crocus flowers and has to be hand- picked. It takes 250000 flowers to make one kilo. This one is harvested on the fertile La Mancha plateau in Spain. In Delia’s recipe the threads are crushed into a powder and added to the onion at the beginning of the cooking. One pack will make about 2 risottos so you may wish to order two or three.

The saffron is of high quality and, as with all the spices from Seasoned Pioneers, is cleverly packed in a foil pack to shield it from the light and therefore preserve its flavour. You can also reseal it afterwards. And while you are ordering saffron, why not get some other spices to tide you over? This is the time to spice up our meagre provisions. Buy Indian spices to make a curry, make sure you get some dried herbs to replace the fresh herbs you normally buy and spices for Easter baking. And Seasoned Pioneers can be trusted as there are no preservatives, colouring or additives in any of their products.

Conclusion:
Spice up your life

Product Details:
Whole 'La Mancha' Saffron Threads
1g
£4.95
seasonedpioneers.com

Availability and price as at 1st April 2020

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