Our Windlesham kitchen, where most of our recipes are perfected, is a library of ingredients. The shelves brim with a nuanced mix of spices, salts, seasonings, and flours from across cultures. This vegetarian/vegan protein lunch recipe is an ode to the saffron from Kashmir (India), Ras-el-Hanout from Morocco (North Africa) and the occasional sunny Surrey skies.

Ingredients (Serves 2):

250 gm paneer or tofu
1 cup milk of your choice (nut milks work better with tofu)
½ tsp saffron strands
1 tsp ras-el-hanout (and a little more for sprinkling)
A pinch of salt
½ each of mixed peppers (red, yellow, green)
1 red onion
Few leaves of lettuce
Slices of cucumber
A few stalks of coriander
Wholemeal wraps

Step-by-Step:

Infuse the Milk with Saffron: Warm the milk and add the saffron strands, mixing well. Cover and refrigerate for a few hours before cooking to let the flavours deepen.

Prepare the Paneer or Tofu: If store-bought, soften the paneer or tofu by soaking it in hot water for a few minutes.

Marinate: Cut the softened paneer or tofu into baton-sized pieces suitable for wraps. Marinate them in the saffron milk with ras-el-hanout and a pinch of salt.

Chop the Vegetables: Dice the peppers and onion into large bite-sized pieces. Toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Bake and Grill: Preheat the oven to 250°C. Place the marinated paneer/tofu on a parchment-lined baking tray. If space permits, add the peppers and onion mix to the same tray; otherwise, use a separate one. Grill in the oven for 20-25 minutes until golden and cooked through.

Assemble the Wraps: Warm the wraps and spread a little hummus or leftover marinade as a base. Add lettuce, the grilled batons, the pepper-onion mix, cucumber slices, and coriander. Sprinkle a bit more ras-el-hanout if desired.

Tips:

Experiment with Fillings: Try adding roasted courgettes or aubergines for a meatier texture.
Spice Pairing: Middle Eastern flavours dominate here, but don’t shy away from other African or Indian spices like garam masala to make it your own!

Why Saffron?

Saffron has a lovely fragrant flavour mostly associated with sweet foods, but works wonders when with savoury recipes too.

Rich in Antioxidants & Anti-Inflammatory : Saffron contains potent antioxidants like crocin, picrocrocin, and safranal, which help neutralise harmful free radicals in the body.  The active compounds in saffron possess anti-inflammatory effects, potentially aiding to reduce the oxidative stress inflammation-related conditions.

Mood Enhancement: Saffron may improve mood and alleviate symptoms of depression, earning it the nickname 'sunshine spice'.

Supports Heart Health: Saffron may contribute to cardiovascular health by helping to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. 

Regulates Appetite: Saffron can help regulate appetite and reduce cravings and thus snacking, beneficial if you're aiming for a calorie deficit or controlling hunger pangs.