Saffron dessert recipes from Persia you'll absolutely love
What's the story
Persian cuisine is known for its rich flavors and aromatic ingredients, the star being saffron. Not only does this golden spice add a unique taste, but also an alluring color to desserts. Persian desserts often pair saffron with other ingredients like rose water and pistachios, resulting in delicious, visually appealing delights. Here, we explore some traditional Persian dessert recipes that highlight the mystical allure of saffron.
Rice pudding
Saffron rice pudding delight
Saffron rice pudding (known as sholeh zard) is a fragrant dish in Persian cuisine made with rice, sugar, and saffron. The dessert is often garnished with slivered almonds and pistachios to add texture to the dish. The key to getting the perfect consistency is slow cooking the rice until it is creamy. A hint of rose water lends an aroma, making it an all-time favorite during special occasions.
Ice cream
Saffron ice cream treat
Saffron ice cream is a refreshing twist to traditional frozen desserts. Called bastani sonnati in Persia, the ice cream mixes saffron with rose water and cardamom for an exotic flavor. Churned to the perfection, it often comes with chunks of pistachios for the crunchiness. This creamy delight is ideal for warm days when you want something sweet yet sophisticated.
Halva magic
Saffron-infused halva magic
Halva is a dense confection of flour/semolina cooked with sugar syrup/honey. In Persian cuisine, saffron-infused halva is unique because of its vivid color and rich taste. It is made by lightly roasting the flour before mixing it with sugar syrup flavored by strands of saffron soaked in hot water. The dessert can either be shaped into tiny pieces or served as slices.
Baklava layers
Saffron baklava layers
Baklava is another classic dessert where layers of phyllo pastry are filled with nuts (like walnuts or pistachios), spice-mixed together with spices (cinnamon) and melted butter. Then, they are baked till golden brown before being generously drizzled over them with honey syrup. The syrup is infused with delicate threads of precious Iranian-grown safflower.