Saffron rice chopped pistachio nuts. Similar other dishes exist in other parts of Western Asia. Saffron rice Saffron rice is a dish made from saffron, white rice and also usually vegetable bouillon. Saffron rice is found in the cuisines of many countries (in one form or another). The recipe is similar to plain cooked rice with addition of ingredients. Saffron rice is a dish in the cuisine of Seychelles. In India and Pakistan, plain saffron rice is cooked with joha rice or Basmati rice, saffron, vegetable bouillon, ghee, and bay leaves. In Iran, India, and Pakistan, sweet saffron rice called "zarda" is
History of saffron Buddha". Wan reflected on how saffron was used in his time: "The [saffron crocus] flower withers after a few days, and then the saffron is obtained. It is valued for its uniform yellow colour. It can be used to aromatise wine." In modern times saffron cultivation has spread to Afghanistan due to the efforts of the European Union and the United Kingdom. Together they promote saffron cultivation among impoverished and cash-strapped Afghan farmers as an ideal alternative to lucrative—and illicit—opium production. Saffron cultivation in Europe declined steeply following the fall of the Roman Empire. For several centuries thereafter, saffron cultivation