Gulab jamun (sticky saffron-flavoured dumplings)

These are really delicious and one of India’s favourite little desserts. They are traditionally made with reduced milk but as that takes a lot of time and effort, many of us make them with dried milk powder instead. They are easy to make and the only two tricks to getting them right  is a soft dough and frying them over a very low heat so they cook all the way to the centre. They are very moreish! Serve as they are or warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Potato-crusted saffron rice

A gently sweetened rice and potato bake perfumed with saffron, though it’s fried really, not baked, until crisp and golden. Use a mandoline to slice the potatoes as they need to be exactly the same thickness for even cooking. The saffron sugar syrup will continue to develop flavour and colour over a period of seven days so begin this step up to a week in advance.