You’ll discover how this modern take on Spanish chicken transforms traditional paella elements into a weeknight-friendly feast. As saffron’s golden threads dissolve into the rice, they carry forward centuries of Moorish culinary influence while your Ninja Speedi tackles the contemporary challenge of achieving perfectly crispy chicken skin. The combination of smoked paprika, garlic, and that signature saffron aroma creates a dish that’s both authentic and accessible. Whether you’re a seasoned home chef or just starting to explore Spanish cuisine, there’s an intriguing story behind every element of this vibrant meal.
Spanish Cooking’s Saffron Traditions
When you explore Spanish cuisine’s connection to saffron, you’ll find its roots in the ancient Moorish influence that brought these precious crimson threads to the Iberian Peninsula over a thousand years ago.
Today, you can watch Spanish farmers carefully harvesting saffron by hand in places like La Mancha, where they gather the delicate stigmas of autumn-blooming crocus flowers in the early morning hours.
You’ll notice this cherished spice starring in signature Spanish rice dishes across different regions, from Valencia’s iconic paella to Murcia’s caldero, where it adds both its distinctive golden colour and subtle flavour.
Ancient Moorish Saffron Legacy
During Spain’s centuries of Moorish rule, saffron emerged as a precious spice that would forever transform Spanish cuisine. The Moors brought this golden treasure from the Middle East in the 8th century, and you can still see their influence in Spain’s signature dishes today.
You’ll find that the Moors weren’t just expert traders – they revolutionised Spanish farming by introducing advanced irrigation systems that made saffron cultivation possible. They taught locals how to grow and harvest the delicate crocus flowers, whose crimson stigmas yield the precious spice.
The Moors also shared their knowledge of saffron’s many uses, from adding colour and flavour to rice dishes to serving as a natural dye for textiles. This ancient legacy lives on in modern Spanish cooking, where you’ll spot saffron’s distinctive golden hue in countless traditional recipes.
Harvesting Spain’s Golden Threads
Throughout Spain’s countryside, the delicate art of saffron harvesting remains a cherished autumn tradition.
You’ll find families gathering in the early morning hours to pluck the precious purple crocus flowers before the sun rises too high. It’s a race against time, as these delicate blooms must be harvested the same day they open.
Once you’ve collected the flowers, you’ll need steady hands to carefully remove the three crimson stigmas from each bloom.
These valuable threads are then dried to create the saffron spice that’s so essential to Spanish cuisine. While you might be tempted to rush this process, experienced harvesters will tell you it takes about 150 flowers to produce just one gram of saffron – which explains why it’s often called “red gold.”
Regional Rice Dish Traditions
Spain’s prized saffron transforms humble rice dishes into legendary regional specialities across the country.
You’ll find paella Valenciana in the east, where locals combine saffron-infused rice with rabbit, chicken, and seasonal vegetables. In Murcia, they’ve perfected caldero, a fisherman’s one-pot wonder where the rice soaks up rich seafood broth tinted golden by saffron threads.
Head north to Catalonia, and you’ll discover arròs a banda, where the rice is cooked separately in saffron-flavoured fish stock.
In Andalusia, you can’t miss arroz marinero, where saffron rice mingles with fresh catches from the Mediterranean.
Each region’s unique take on saffron rice dishes reflects its local ingredients and cooking traditions, but they all share that distinctive golden hue and aromatic complexity that only true Spanish saffron can deliver.


Ninja Speedi Crispy Spanish Chicken with Saffron Rice
Description
This vibrant one-pot meal combines the classic flavours of Spanish cuisine with perfectly cooked chicken and aromatic rice. The Ninja Speedi's dual-cooking technology guarantees the rice absorbs all the delicious seasonings while the chicken develops a beautifully crispy skin.
The dish features tender chicken pieces seasoned with smoked paprika and garlic, served over saffron-infused rice studded with sweet peppers and peas. The simultaneous cooking method delivers restaurant-quality results in a fraction of the time.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Pat chicken thighs dry and season with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika.
For bottom pot:
- Add rice, stock, saffron, diced onion, peppers, and garlic to the bottom pot. Stir to combine all ingredients.
For crisping tray:
- Place seasoned chicken thighs skin-side up on the crisping tray. Drizzle with olive oil.
- Select Speedi Meals function and set temperature to 180°C. Cook for 20 minutes. Add frozen peas to the rice mixture in the last 5 minutes of cooking. Let rest for 5 minutes after cooking.
- Serve chicken pieces over the saffron rice with lemon wedges.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 4
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 766.62kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 41.09g64%
- Saturated Fat 10.24g52%
- Trans Fat 0.16g
- Cholesterol 192.94mg65%
- Sodium 953.41mg40%
- Potassium 798.95mg23%
- Total Carbohydrate 56.44g19%
- Dietary Fiber 4.04g17%
- Sugars 6.54g
- Protein 41.08g83%
- Vitamin A 146.74 IU
- Vitamin C 56.83 mg
- Calcium 59.03 mg
- Iron 3.03 mg
- Vitamin D 0.19 IU
- Vitamin E 2.32 IU
- Vitamin K 18.52 mcg
- Thiamin 0.33 mg
- Riboflavin 0.49 mg
- Niacin 12.63 mg
- Vitamin B6 1.03 mg
- Folate 52.07 mcg
- Vitamin B12 1.19 mcg
- Phosphorus 442.13 mg
- Magnesium 70.5 mg
- Zinc 3.63 mg
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Note
For extra flavour, marinate the chicken in the spices for up to 4 hours before cooking. Confirm rice is well spread in the bottom pot for even cooking. If the chicken skin isn't crispy enough after the cooking time, use the Air Crisp function for an additional 2-3 minutes. For best results, avoid opening the lid during cooking to maintain temperature and steam.