Peruvian Spice to make yellow colored rice?

Question

I'm looking for a certain spice that is apparently sold in Peru. I'm not sure if you can find it in the US or not.

I tried this rice at a girlfriends house about 8 years ago. She was Peruvian, and was living in Canada at the time.

She made rice, added this spice to it, which made it yellow, and fried an egg in olive oil, and put it on top of the heaping pile of rice on a plate. It was absolutely wonderful. It was what she considered it a paupers meal, or poor persons meal in Peru, as it doesn't cost much to buy rice, a few eggs, and this spice.

Anyone happen to know this spice?
Anyone know where to get it?
Anyone know the full recipe?

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Tamarind will make the rice brown color! It was actually saffron powder (poor man's saffron). It gives a wonderful aromatic fragrance & a hint of saffron flavor.

Saffron powder is a by product of the actual saffron spice ($$). They sometimes mix in a little tumeric for volume. You can always use real saffron or a pinch of tumeric.

Peruvian Arroz Tapado (6 servings)

Ingredients:

3 cloves of garlic, minced
2 tbs oil
lemon juice
1/2 tsp saffron powder
salt
4 cups water
1 pound of washed rice
1 onion, finely chopped
2 freid eggs
1 tps parsley, chopped

METHOD:

Saute the onions and garlic in oil, add the saffron powder and a few drops of lemon juice. Then add the salt and rice. Mix well and add the water, bring to a boil. Continue to cook until the rice begins to dry out. Simmer, covered, until rice is done.

Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and fried eggs.

Answer 2

I am from South America and we use a lot of spices here. Tamarind is wonderful. I will give you a recipe:
Ingredients & Directions
1/4 c Tamarind pulp, ripe &
-- seedless
1 1/4 c Water
Salt, to taste
1 tb Raw sugar
1/4 ts Black pepper
1/2 ts Chili powder
1/2 ts White cuin seeds, toasted &
-- ground
1 tb Mint leaves, chopped

Soak tamarind pulp in water overnight. The next day, mash the pulp into the water & blend throughly. Strain liquid in a sieve or through some cheesecloth & discard the fibres. Stir in the remaining ingredients except the mint leaves. Whisk thoroughly until the sugar has dissolved. Sprinkle with mint & serve chilled. Serve with samosas or other salty (*chaat*) dishes.

U can find it in stores from Thailand, Arabic countries, and in many big groceries sotres.

Answer 3

If you live in the USA there is a company called Goya, from Miami, they sell boxes containing envelopes of a seasoning with saffron, it dyes the rice a bright yellow and also provides seasonings. It is called Sazon.

As to the recipe I can't help you but I'm sure Peruvian friends on Yahoo Answers will provide it.

Good Luck

Answer 4

The saffron made the rice yellow.

You can get it (and the recipe) from www.Penzeys.com.

Saffron is expensive, but you only need a small pinch for a pot of rice. I've had my saffron for a few years.

Answer 5

Tumeric is a spice that will color rice yellow. So is Saffron but is much more expensive.

Answer 6

Saffron

I bought it at a Mexican meat market once. It comes in a cardboard material little canister.

Answer 7

tamarind, any grocery store or spice place online