*  Exported from  MasterCook  *

                      FRAGRANT SAFFRON PASTA SALAD

Recipe By     :
Serving Size  : 4    Preparation Time :0:00
Categories    : Pasta

 Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
  8       oz           (240 g) small pasta shapes
  4       ts           Olive oil
          pn           Pure saffron powder or
                       Strands
  1       oz           (30 g) flaked almonds
  2       oz           (60 g) currants
  1                    Garlic clove, crushed
                       Juice of 1 lime
  1       t            Clear honey
    1/4   ts           Ground cumin
    1/4   ts           Ground coriander
  1                    Yellow pepper, de-seeded and
                       Cut into slivers
  1       tb           Finely chopped fresh
                       Parsley
  1       tb           Finely chopped fresh mint
  1       tb           Finely chopped fresh
                       Coriander
                       Salt and freshly ground
                       Black pepper
                       Fresh coriander leaves, to
                       Garnish

 1. Cook the pasta in plenty of lightly salted boiling
 water for a few minutes less than the pack
 instructions. Rinse well with cold water and drain
 thoroughly. Transfer to a serving bowl. 2. Heat the
 oil in a small saucepan and add the saffron, flaked
 almonds, currants and garlic. Cook gently, stirring,
 until the almonds turn a rich nutty brown. Remove from
 the heat and blend in the lime juice, honey, cumin and
 coriander. 3. Gently fold the pasta, pepper slivers
 and fresh herbs into the dressing until lightly
 coated. Season to taste with salt and pepper. 4.
 Refrigerate for 1 hour and then serve the salad,
 garnished with sprigs of fresh coriander.

 Preparation and cooking time: 30 minutes + 1 hour
 chilling

 Freezing not recommended Use the smallest pasta shapes
 (pastini) you can find for this spicy salad. Italian
 food shops may stock orzo (barley) pasta which
 resemble grains of rice. This beautifully fragrant and
 colourful salad is a good accompaniment to barbecued
 chicken or lamb.



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