A coworker and I once argued about why our rice breakfast is yellow. She's been really curious about the color. I told her it's margarine and butter that made it yellow and she was not convinced. The staff approached us and asked what's our problem and then we both asked what they put on that rice. She smiled and said it was butter and annato seeds. Haha! I won the debate. Lol!
But making this food is a challenge for me. Annato seeds are not just natural food coloring for most dishes. It also enhances the flavor. Let me show you how to make java rice with annato seeds.
Ingredients:
Steps:
I will have to try this rice. I have never cooked with annatto but I know it is the yellow color in many processed foods, like mac and cheese.
Really? I didn't know that.. I thought it's the cheese powder that makes mac & cheese yellow.. that's interesting..I'm gonna try that next time :)
If you make mac and cheese from scratch, the yellow is from the cheese. I'm talking about packages, especially the ones with the powdered cheese.
My oldest son has ADHD and there is some concern with yellow dye #5 (which is a coal tar derivative) causing behavioral issues. I started reading ingredients on all sorts of things to make sure we avoided it. I noticed that annatto was often used instead, in more natural products.
I believe your breakfast rice isn't colored so much by the butter but more by the annato seeds. The annato seeds is often called "poor man's saffron." Saffron is used to bring a bright yellow color to rice and other foods but is also the most expensive spice in the world....sometimes sold for $6.00-$9.00 per gram.
