Persian Chicken and Saffron is a traditional dish that can be served with several different side dishes. This amazing dish is made with the golden spice and is bursting with enchanting flavors from a land far far away.
If you're looking for new chicken recipes, you're in the right place. We have several unique chicken recipes that you're going to love! From our Mediterranean chicken recipe and Harissa chicken with couscous to saffron chicken kebabs, our chicken recipes are packed with so much flavor. Today's recipe is a Persian chicken recipe that's flavored with saffron. It's easy, yet fancy enough for a date night in or a dinner party.
There is only one spice that can turn food into gold: saffron. A little bit of saffron always goes a long way, that's why it's one of the priciest spices in the world.
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What I love the most about saffron is that it's a spice that can be used in sweet and savory dishes. This particular recipe is like sunshine on a plate. Juicy chicken thighs smothered in an onion saffron sauce makes a simple yet sophisticated dish full of flavors.
Persian Chicken Recipe with Saffron
Chicken is cooked in many different ways in Persian cuisine. It can be cooked in a tomato sauce such as the chicken in Zereshk Polo Morgh. This recipe is a staple in Persian cooking as it can be served with several types of mixed rice dishes such as dill rice and Persian white rice. In the olden days, home cooks would cook chicken in boiling water first and then mix the chicken with the sauce, but as I tried many different approaches to making Persian chicken I came to the conclusion that the chicken is juicier and way tastier if it's seared first until the skin is golden.
How to make saffron chicken
Start by searing the chicken with a tablespoon of bloomed saffron. Now, that might seem unconventional to some as saffron is a delicate spice and could lose the aroma if it's added in the beginning of the recipe. But fear not, as this is not the stage in which we add all the saffron. I add only one tablespoon to give a color shock to the chicken and help it turn to that gorgeous golden color you see here.
Once the chicken legs are fully seared on both sides and have turned into a gorgeous golden color, transfer them onto a plate and discard the excess fat that has been rendered from the skin.
Heat some olive oil in the same pan and saute onion and peppers. Add in the spices and top with the chicken legs. Add in water and cook for about 40 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked. Now because we have already added some saffron to the chicken, they are going to smell and look very nice. Finally, add in the rest of the bloomed saffron and cook for another ten minutes. This is for the saffron to blend into the dish. After ten minutes, the golden chicken is ready to serve with you side dish of choice.
Serving suggestions for Persian chicken
This traditional Iranian recipe is pretty simple to make and the flavors are unique and bright. It's perfect for a friendly gathering when you all are excited to try a new dish at the comfort of home. Because of the bright and full flavors, this dish is better served with a simple side dish ,such as:
If you have read my post on Advieh, you know that spices have a very important role in Persian cuisine and that saffron is one of the key spices in Persian cooking. It's important to know how to bloom saffron and use it.
Notes and tips
- You can use boneless skinless chicken for this recipe. If doing so, start the recipe by heating one tablespoon of olive oil in a pan and then sear the chicken. It will also take less time for the chicken to cook with peppers and onions.
- This recipe is different from Persian chicken kebab (joojeh kabab). Both have saffron but this one is made in a pan whereas the kebab is made on charcoal.
- Saffron shouldn't be used as a strand in cooking. It needs to be ground and bloomed. Here is a complete tutorial on how to bloom saffron.
- Store the leftover chicken in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to two days. To reheat, place the chicken in a pan, cover it and heat over medium low heat.
Every bite of this saffron chicken stew carries memories of a home I'm not at anymore. The caramelized onion is like how my maman would make it and the chicken infused with saffron has hundreds of stories untold. When I miss my land far far away, a drop of bloomed saffron would bring sweet memories back, bring a smile to my face, and warms my heart.
Then, I remember I have this corner of the internet to tell you all about that other world, which many haven't seen but half of me belongs there. So, thank you for being here, I love sharing my stories with you.
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Step-by-Step Recipe
Persian Chicken with Saffron
Ingredients
- 4 Whole Chicken Leg Quarters Bone-in Skin-on
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ⅓ cup Bloomed Saffron See Notes #4
- 2 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 Large Yellow Sweet Onion Thinly Sliced
- 1 Large Green Bell Pepper Cut into one-inch pieces
- ½ teaspoon Turmeric
- ¼ teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
- ½ teaspoon Ground Cinnamon See Notes #2
- 1 Cup Water
Instructions
- Heat a skillet over medium heat. Pat dry chicken legs and sprinkle salt on both sides.
- Place the chicken legs, skin side down in the pan and sear until the skin is golden and the fat is rendered.
- Add in one tablespoon bloomed saffron to the pan, shake the pan so the saffron spreads on the skin on the chicken.
- Turn the chicken legs and sear the other side for seven to eight minutes until golden.
- Transfer the chicken legs to a plate and cover. Discard the fat.
- In the same pan, heat the olive oil. Once shimmery and ready, saute sliced until until translucent and golden on the edges.
- Add in green bell pepper and saute for another minute.
- Add in turmeric, cinnamon and black pepper. Cook for another five minutes.
- Place the chicken legs on the onion and pepper mixture.
- Add in Water and turn the heat to high.
- Bring it to simmer, cover and cook for 40 minutes, until the chicken is almost cooked.
- Add in the rest of bloomed saffron. Cook for another 10 to 15 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked.
- Serve with Persian rice, or Persian dill and green pea rice.
Notes
- You can use one cinnamon stick in this recipe instead of ground cinnamon.
- It's also possible to use boneless skinless chicken for this recipe. If doing so, start the recipe by heating one tablespoon of olive oil in a pan and then sear the chicken. It will also take less time for the chicken to cook with peppers and onions.
- This saffron chicken recipe is different from Persian chicken kebab. Both have saffron but this Persian chicken recipe is made in a pan whereas the kebab is made on charcoal grill.
- You need to bloom saffron for this recipe as saffron shouldn't be used as a strand. To bloom saffron, grind 5 strands using a mortar and pestle, then sprinkle over 3 cubes of ice and leave it on the counter. Once the ice is melted, the bloomed saffron is ready.
- Store the leftover chicken in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to two days. To reheat, place the chicken in a pan, cover it and heat over medium low heat.
Erica Schwarz
This is so flavorful and so easy to make, and the cinnamon is not optional! This recipe is DELICIOUS!
Christa
I love the smell of saffron but have never cooked with it because I thought it was too expensive. Loved the liquid bloomed saffron in this recipe! Delish.
Shadi HasanzadeNemati
Yes! a small amount of saffron goes a long way! Hope you enjoy this recipe!
dennis
Did anyone notice this recipe calls for 1/3 CUP of Saffron?? That is around 500-600 DOLLARS of Saffron (which runs about $10 per GRAM)..
Besides that obvious error in measurements, this is a fairly good dish.Turns out I am not a big fan of saffron, though.
Gorgeous color it gives, however.
Shadi HasanzadeNemati
Hi Dennis, did you try reading the post and the recipe card completely? I have mentioned several times that saffron should not be used in strands and should be used in liquid form, also known as "bloomed saffron" (which I have also linked to the recipe and mentioned how to make it in the recipe notes). You might enjoy saffron if you use it just enough and not too much.
Cody H
Thanks for this! My wife and I very much enjoyed it. There is a lot of cooking liquid left over? Unless my form wasn't quite right? I thought it such a shame to discard this, as most of the flavor is in this liquid. After I removed the chicken I reduced this liquid a good bit and somewhere along the way decided to add a quarter of a cinnamon stick. I strained this reduction, transferred a small portion and added: Greek yogurt, salt, pepper, turmeric, coriander and stirred. The sauce was a very welcome edition. I'd recommend giving the creation of one a go to anyone. Although I wonder if there being so much cooking liquid was just a blunder on my part and the sauce saving myself from a mistake lol. Thanks again, making this was a fun time!
Shadi HasanzadeNemati
Hi Cody, so happy to hear that you guys enjoyed this recipe! Love that you turned the liquid into a tasty sauce! Did you cook the chicken with the lid on all through the cooking process? Maybe that could be the reason you had more liquid left. Anyway, glad to know you enjoyed it and thank you for trying this recipe!
top masticating juicer
mouth watering. perfect recipe. i loved it
Marion
Hi Shahi,
Thank you for this wonderful recipe - it has turned into one of the favorites for my family. I add some Sereshk when I add the Saffron and it is really delicious.
Thank you
Marion
Shadi HasanzadeNemati
Hi Marion 🙂 So happy to hear you love this Persian delicacy! I love the addition of zereshk and sometimes do it. Happy holidays!
Ryan Rush
Beautiful! When you cover and simmer the chicken does it turn the skin from golden with a little crispness to soggy? Seems like covering reverses the intent of searing the skin. Mine got very soft.
Shadi HasanzadeNemati
Hi Ryan, as there is not much water in this recipe, technically, it shouldn't make the skin too soggy. But this chicken recipe isn't supposed to have a crispy skin in the end as there is also saffron used to cook the chicken. However, if you like the skin to be crispy, I suggest you give the chicken a final sear in a another pan before serving. Hope this helps 🙂
Maela
Hello Shadi !
I cooked this receipe tonight and we all loved it! I used one green and one yellow bell-pepper to add color and sweetness. Easy to cook, pure fragrance and just so good! De-li-cious ! Thank you so much !
Maela
Shadi HasanzadeNemati
I love the idea of using colorful peppers! So happy to hear you all enjoyed it!
Ashley Nicole
This looks so delicious with the different spices! I love chicken recipes and I like how easy this can be prepared and how flavorful this looks! A perfect meal for the family!
Shadi HasanzadeNemati
Thanks Ashley! It's such a simple but flavorful recipe!
Ushmana
I really love the golden glow the turmeric and saffron gave to the chicken; it looks too gorgeous to eat!
Definitely got to make this for dinner tomorrow. Thanks for the recipe, Shadi ! All the love from Nepal xoxo
Shadi HasanzadeNemati
Hi Ushmana! Thank you for your kind comment! I hope you love this recipe and enjoy the flavors. I have been to a Nepalese restaurant once and LOVED the food. So delicious and aromatic.
Jessica Fasano Formicola
I love saffron and the color it gives is so amazing. I am dying to try this!
Shadi HasanzadeNemati
Thanks Jessica! I hope you love it!
Chichi
Wow this looks so good. I can literally eat off this screen if it's possible. Would love to try this recipe. Looks like what I would love.
Shadi HasanzadeNemati
Hi Chichi! Thank you for your comment. I hope you love this recipe!
Amy Nash
This dish is BEAUTIFUL! And oh my, those flavors are amazing,. I like to explore the world through food, especially regions that my family comes from and since my youngest daughter's genetic heritage is from that region of the world, this persian chicken is something I must try!
Shadi HasanzadeNemati
Hi Amy! Thank you for your comment. The flavor of this dish is like a feast of the Middle East. I hope you and your family love it!
Stephanie@ApplesforCJ
This dish looks absolutely stunning! I love the color the saffron adds to this. I've never really used saffron that much but I think I need to give it a try!
Shadi HasanzadeNemati
Saffron is truly the best spice, it turns every dish into something magical!
Elaine @ Dishes Delish
I love the color that saffron adds. You're right, it's so golden! This chicken dish looks so delicious! Your recipe looks so easy that I can't wait to make it! Your photos are absolutely stunning!
Shadi HasanzadeNemati
Thank you so much Elaine! This dish is very simple to make but the flavors are so good!