# cooking with Azafran en flor

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-with-azafran-en-flor/590919>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [July 31, 2011, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-with-azafran-en-flor/590919 "2011-07-31T12:23:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-with-azafran-en-flor/590919/1 "2011-07-31T12:23:26Z")

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Also labeled “Safflower” from the Hispanic grocery store. Lots of neat things there, like those little peppers that go in General Tsao chicken, but I digress.  
It looks like saffron, but at a dollar for a packet, it can’t be.  
How is it used in cooking?

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**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-with-azafran-en-flor/590919/2 "2011-07-31T13:31:56Z")

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It gives the color of saffron but not the flavor.

Sometimes mixed into real saffron to delude the customer and stretch the product.

Or actually sold as saffron.

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**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-with-azafran-en-flor/590919/3 "2011-07-31T16:47:11Z")

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Saffron is harvested from the saffron crocus. The safflower is a completely different plant.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-with-azafran-en-flor/590919/4 "2011-07-31T17:22:57Z")

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> [@Chefguy](#):
>
> Saffron is harvested from the saffron crocus. The safflower is a completely different plant.

That far I got by myself. 🙂

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**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-with-azafran-en-flor/590919/5 "2011-07-31T19:46:48Z")

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> [@carnivorousplant](#):
>
> That far I got by myself. 🙂

One never knows, and this being the Dope and all, the smallest detail cannot be overlooked. 😉

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**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-with-azafran-en-flor/590919/6 "2011-07-31T19:57:04Z")

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Thanks. 🙂

How do you make Saffron rice, Chefguy? Real saffron does do a darn thing except turn the rice yellow.

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**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cooking-with-azafran-en-flor/590919/7 "2011-07-31T20:53:56Z")

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> [@carnivorousplant](#):
>
> Thanks. 🙂
> 
> How do you make Saffron rice, Chefguy? Real saffron does do a darn thing except turn the rice yellow.

Possibly your saffron isn’t fresh enough, or it’s cut with turmeric or something else. Or perhaps you’re not using enough. Most recipes call for a small pinch. I use a fairly hefty pinch (I buy it by the ounce $$$) and let it dissolve in the warm liquid before adding the rice. I also put butter in the pot and a handful of raisins. While it’s cooking, I saute some slivered almonds in butter, then mix them in at the end. Serve this with lamb kofta and you’ll be happy.