Saffron cream sauce is a versatile sauce made from saffron threads, heavy cream, and broth or stock. It can be used to flavor savory dishes like rice, fish, and meat, or sweet dishes like custards and fruit sauces. Saffron threads are expensive and the sauce can be difficult to make for inexperienced cooks.
Saffron cream is a thick sauce made from saffron threads, heavy cream, and fish broth or stock. Cream sauce is used to flavor rice, fish and seafood, fruit, chicken, meat or pasta. Some cream sauces can also be made to serve with desserts. Native to Southwest Asia, saffron threads come from the stigma of saffron crocus flowers (Crocus sativus). Saffron cream sauce is often expensive due to the high cost of saffron threads and can be difficult and time consuming for inexperienced cooks.
Powdered saffron is sometimes used to make cream sauce but, more often, dried saffron threads are used. The saffron threads are simmered in chicken stock, white wine, or fish stock for 10 to 30 minutes before the cream is added. Other spices or vegetables – such as onion, garlic, spinach and tomatoes – are sometimes added to the sauce. After you add the cream, the sauce thickens and cooks for another minute or two to incorporate the flavors. The saffron cream is then served hot on any number of plates.
Saffron cream is usually made as a savory sauce for dinner-type dishes, though it’s versatile enough to accompany dessert dishes as well. One version of a saffron custard uses cream, powdered sugar and saffron powder whipped together and served atop mousse, pudding or cake. Another version uses coconut milk, sugar, saffron threads, corn starch and egg yolks. The cream is cooked and cooled and becomes the consistency of pudding, which is then served with the cake.
The basic saffron cream made only with sweet wine or milk and cream, omitting broth or stock, can be made with the addition of egg yolks and honey. This type of saffron cream is then used to make tarts and dips or fruit sauces. Most dessert saffron spreads require that the saffron threads be soaked in water for a period of time before making the sauce because they are not soaked in the broth first. Many saffron sauces can also be made without adding cream.
Saffron stigmas or threads are often used to decrease appetite and increase positive moods and sometimes aid in weight loss. The possible mood-enhancing effect means that they are also used by some people to relieve premenstrual symptoms. Besides the added benefits, saffron threads add a unique flavor and yellow color to foods. Saffron Cream Sauce can be used with virtually any dish.
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