Saffron Rice Pudding

Saffron, the tiny stigmas of a type of crocus, was introduced to Spain and Portugal by the Arabs. It takes tens of thousands of flowers to yield a single pound of saffron threads, a fact that makes their high price understandable. The stratospheric cost means that this golden-hued rice pudding has always been reserved for special occasions, such as weddings and circumcisions. The ingredients— rice, pine nuts, raisins, pomegranate seeds, saffron—all symbolize either good fortune or fertility