Can I Add Raisins To The Saffron Scented Pilaf?

Our answer

Nigella's Saffron Scented Chicken Pilaf (from NIGELLA SUMMER is a gently spiced dish that is perfect for warm weather eating. The rice is cooked with a combination of saffron, chicken stock (broth), cardamom and juice and zest from one lemon. Sizes of lemon do vary but usually the juice of one lemon is approximately 4 tablespoons (60ml/¼ cup) and this should not be too assertive in the overall dish. The acidity in the juice will usually mellow during cooking. The lemon zest contains essential oils and will provide quite a bit of the lemon flavour.

If you make the pilaf again then you could add half of the lemon juice and pare the zest into large strips and add the strips to the rice, then remove the strips after the rice has cooked. Taste and add more lemon juice, if needed, when you add the nuts and chopped parsley at the end. Raisins are common in pilafs and could be added, though their sweetness will counteract acidity rather than an overall lemon flavour. We would suggest using approximately 25g (2 tablespoons) raisins and you can add them with the nuts at the end or you could add them before cooking the rice, when you add the saffron, and they will plump up during cooking.