Golden Saffron Rice Bake with Baharat Spiced Meat

March 9, 2026

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It is a aromatic, golden Saffron Rice Bake that’s filled with a layer of baharat spiced meat. It’s huge (serves 10), simple to assemble and can make your kitchen odor unimaginable. I’ve been describing it to folks as a Center Japanese rice lasagna. I do know, I do know, I’m so primary! 😂

Golden Saffron Rice Bake stuffed with Spiced Meat

Golden Saffron Rice Bake with Baharat Spiced Meat

When you love Center Japanese flavours, you’re going to adore right this moment’s recipe! It’s a simple Thursday-night model of the well-known Persian dish Tachin, the place saffron rice is layered with spiced meat or greens, baked, then inverted to disclose a crispy golden base.

We’re skipping the flip (it’s all the time a bit nerve wracking), baking it in a giant pan as an alternative of a twiddling with a pie dish, and taking an specific cross to flavour by utilizing baharat (Lebanese 7-spice) for the meat filling, a retailer purchased spice mix that packs a flavour punch (or make it your self with pantry spices!)

Out of the oven you get a crispy prime you’ll need to peel off instantly, brilliant yellow aromatic rice that’s scrumptious by itself, and a juicy warmly spiced meat filling that smells unimaginable.

Enticed?? 😉

Elements for Golden Saffron Rice Bake

Right here’s what that you must make this huge layered rice bake. There’s 3 components – the Saffron Rice, the spiced meat filling and a yogurt sauce (important!).

1. For the saffron rice

The rice will get its vibrant yellow color from saffron, moistness from yogurt and olive oil, and is held collectively by eggs. Basmati is the standard rice used for Tachin, and although lengthy grain rice will work, you’ll miss the delicate aromatic odor of basmati rice.

Ingredients for Golden Saffron Rice Bake stuffed with Spiced Meat

Saffron – The world’s most costly spice by weight is what provides the rice that attractive brilliant yellow color! Offered extensively as of late within the spice part of standard grocery shops, it provides a uniquely delicate earthy floral flavour utilizing only a small quantity – we solely use 1/2 teaspoon.

Substitute – If actual saffron is out of attain, be happy to make use of imitation saffron powder which can give the rice the same brilliant yellow flavour. Nevertheless, it doesn’t add flavour so to compensate, I’d add some melted butter into the rice (round 50g / 3 tablespoons).
Basmati rice – As famous above, basmati rice is conventional for Persian dishes although you possibly can substitute with lengthy grain rice. Jasmine, medium grain and brief grain rice (like sushi rice) doesn’t work in addition to they’re softer. I discovered they received a bit too mushy for my style as soon as baked lengthy sufficient to make the floor crispy.
Yogurt – Use any plain unsweetened yogurt. Full fats is greatest, although when you solely have low fats you possibly can add a bit further olive oil to compensate.
Olive oil – That is what retains the rice layer from drying out. So don’t skimp on it! Actually, be happy so as to add further. 🙂
Eggs maintain the rice layer from falling aside whenever you reduce it. Use massive eggs, round 55g/2oz every sol in cartons labelled “massive eggs” (see right here for extra on egg sizes for cooking – it’s a factor!).
Salt – We use some for par boiling in addition to mixing some into the rice.

2. spiced filling

I really like making this with lamb which is used extensively in Center Japanese cooking and goes so superbly with Arabic spices. Nevertheless, I’ve additionally made this with beef and let’s simply say plates have been scraped clear. 🙂

Lamb or beef – As famous above, I particularly love this with lamb however it’s equally pretty much as good with beef. It can be made with hen or turkey although the filling could also be a bit drier as they’re leaner.
Eggplant – I added this for 2 causes: to extend the amount of filling so you’ve gotten a thick distinct layer between the golden rice (slightly than utilizing fairly a bit of additional meat), and to make the filling a bit juicy (eggplant are like sponges!). You may substitute with one other vegetable that’s juicy when cooked – zucchini and cauliflower come to thoughts.
Baharat – The important thing spice, an specific cross to critical flavour within the lamb filling! Baharat is a Center Japanese spice mix, made with heat spices like all spices, cinnamon and cumin. You could find it at some massive grocery shops (I get mine from Harris Farms, I’m in Sydney), Arabic shops or make your individual – Baharat recipe right here (simply makes use of frequent pantry spices!).
Cumin powder – Further flavour increase, rounds out the Baharat flavour (utilizing solely Baharat was lacking a bit one thing, I felt).
Tomato paste – This sort of binds the combination collectively, in addition to including a little bit of flavour. With out, it’s a bit too crumbly.
Pine nuts – For sprinkling throughout the floor. It’s used extensively in Center Japanese cooking and I’m very completely happy about that as a result of I like pine nuts!! Substitute with slivered almonds or almond flakes.
Garlic and onion – Important flavour bases!
Salt – I take advantage of cooking salt (kosher salt is the equal within the States). When you’ve solely received desk salt, halve the quantity. For salt flakes, enhance by 50%.

3. LEMON YOGURT SAUCE

You will have an excellent quantity of yogurt sauce to serve with this. Not solely does it add moisture but additionally the cooling tang of yogurt simply finishes it off completely! Use my Lemon Yogurt Sauce – it’s my most used sauce for good cause – it’s a cinch to make, I all the time have what I want, and it goes with “the whole lot”.

However actually even simply plain yogurt would suffice as a result of there’s a lot flavour within the dish already. 🙂

Lemon Yogurt Sauce in a bowl, ready to be used — Lemon yogurt sauce

How you can make Layered Golden Saffron Rice Bake

Right here’s my workflow: get the lamb combination began first then whereas it’s simmering, you can also make the saffron rice. Each will likely be completed across the similar time, able to assemble your rice bake!

1. The baharat spiced meat filling

Use a big 30cm / 12″ pan right here, we’re making fairly a little bit of filling!

Cook dinner lamb – Sauté the onion and garlic first, then cook dinner the lamb, breaking it up as you go.
Spices and eggplant – When you not see purple, add the spices (baharat, cumin and salt) and cook dinner it for 1 minute to toast the spices which can improve the flavour. Stir the tomato paste then the eggplant. Stir till all of the eggplant cubes are coated within the flavours (ie you not see any white floor).

Simmer – Add the water then decrease the warmth barely so it’s simmering energetically however not quickly. Cook dinner for 8 minutes, stirring commonly so the bottom doesn’t catch, till the eggplant is usually cooked (it’s going to cook dinner extra within the oven) and the water has largely evaporated.
Thickness of filling – We wish the filling to nonetheless be juicy however not so watery that it’ll stain the bottom layer of yellow rice. It ought to be thick sufficient that you would be able to draw a path alongside the bottom of the pan. As soon as finished, flip the range off. The filling can be utilized sizzling or cool.

2. MAKE THE SAFFRON RICE

The step to grind the saffron threads into powder is to launch extra flavour and color – keep in mind, that is the world’s most costly spice! When you don’t have a mortar and pestle, you possibly can grind in a bowl utilizing the again of a spoon, or if that doesn’t work (it relies upon how brittle the saffron is), simply soak the entire threads.

Grind saffron with a mortar and pestle till it’s largely a powder.
Saffron water – Add boiling water into the mortar to dissolve the saffron powder.

Saffron yogurt combination – Pour the saffron water right into a bowl with the yogurt, olive oil, eggs and salt. Whisk till mixed. It will likely be pale yellow at this stage – have religion! It turns into a vibrant yellow as soon as baked.
Par boil rice – Convey a big pot of salted water to the boil. Add the rice and boil for simply 5 minutes, then drain in a colander. The rice will end cooking within the oven – it absorbs the liquid from the yogurt combination.

Combine the rice with the yogurt combination.
Yellow rice, prepared to make use of!

3. assembling and baking

Don’t overlook to make use of the pine nuts! I can’t let you know what number of instances I forgot. 🤯😂

Rice base – Unfold half the rice in a 23 x 33cm pan (9 x 13″), or round that dimension. It may be steel, glass, ceramic – any materials.
Lamb layer – Then unfold all of the lamb combination on prime and sprinkle with pine nuts.

Rice topping – Dollop the remaining rice throughout the floor then unfold throughout the lamb.
Bake 50 minutes – Drizzle with oil (this helps the highest go crispy). Bake for 50 minutes in a reasonably sizzling oven – 200°C/400°F (180°C fan-forced).

Baked! It’s prepared when the floor is sort of crispy, with the perimeters a stunning golden color.
Slicing – Let it relaxation for 10 minutes so it “units” a bit so the items will maintain collectively higher. Then reduce like lasagna and serve like lasagna! (NOW do you see why I’ve been describing it as an Center Japanese Lasagna?? 😂)

How you can serve this

As I discussed above, don’t skip the Lemon Yogurt Sauce for serving, it actually advantages from a sauce and the cool tang of yogurt goes with the flavours on this dish 1000% completely. You’ll desire a good quantity too, about 1/4 to 1/3 cup per slice (relying how massive your slice is).

When you get to serving time and realise you forgot to make the sauce, even simply plain yogurt will likely be effective.

Hope you take pleasure in! – Nagi x

Watch how you can make it

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Golden Saffron Rice Bake with Baharat Spiced Meat

Golden Saffron Rice Bake with Baharat Spiced Meat