Saffron!

The first saffron crocus opened today. 3 threads harvested!





(More are just starting to poke up out of the ground, so there might be a little more later.)

 

Too cool! Looking forward to knowing the first thing you make as you harvest them.

 

Looks great, I didn't realise how nice the flowers were!!

 

I sometimes see these in the spice section for $$$$$

What exactly are they, what do you do with it and what do they taste like?

Thanks!

 

WOW thanks. That's a beautiful flower. I didn't know it looked like that.

 

So I was looking for petal uses and I came across this: http://www.denvernaturopathic.com/sniffingsaffron.htm HMMMMmmmm

 

They taste like...saffron. Son described the smell pretty well on another forum--iodine, earthy, with a hint of flowers. Good for saffron rice, paella, bouillabaisse. I use it in grits. Some garlic cooked in olive oil, thyme, saffron, tomatoes, and a couple handsful of grits to cook in the tomato juice. Then top it with some shredded cheese when you dish it up.

Stumblinman, that's an interesting article. It's amazing how fragrant saffron can be. I've had 3 threads drying on a saucer sitting on the kitchen counter, and every time I walk into the kitchen I can smell it.

 

quite the interesting spice

 

Some picked this morning at the bottom of the picture, and after a couple days drying at the top:

 

alot of PA dutch recipes call for it. including a fav of our here at the house slippery potpie

 

Is slippery pot pie a lot like chicken and dumplings? (At least the way my husband's granny told me how to make them--the dumplings were like noodles, with chicken fat skimmed off th boiling chicken to put in the dumplings.) Might have to try that. Anything with noodle-like substances in it makes the old man happy.

 

yep big fat noodle squares all made in one tho no side of dumplings. i ll have to get the Mennonite cook book out and scan it

 

hunted out a quick pic and this is one on google that is fairly close to the look

 

Now you've got a lot of threads.
I wonder where did you get the flower from?

 

Picked up a little package of bulbs several years back--I think from the hardware store. They're in displays this time of year with spring bulbs like tulips, daffodils, etc. Started with about 10 bulbs and they've multiplied. Although one clump hasn't come up this year. I think the voles may have had a saffron bulb snack.