One of the things I enjoyed the most about this cookbook is that the recipes are intertwined with Samuelsson’s stories about Africa and its influence on worldwide cooking - from the markets in Marrakech to a cooking school outside of Cape Town. Discovery of a Continent will take you on a flavourful journey and give you a feel for the spice and variety that make up Africa.

[The recipe from the book recommends using butter, since this does contain dairy, we have noted margarine instead]

Pomegranate Rice

2 T spiced butter* or unsalted butter [Use dairy-free margarine such as Earth Balance]
2 cups broken jasmine rice or long-grain white rice
½ cup olive oil
2 shallots, chopped
One 2-inch piece ginger, peeled and grated
1 cinnamon stick
3 cups chicken stock
1 bay leaf
½ cup pistachios
Seeds from 2 pomegranates

Melt the butter* in a medium sauté pan over very low heat. Add ½ cup of the rice, stirring to coat. Cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the rice is a nut-brown colour. Remove from heat.

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallots, ginger, cinnamon, and the remaining 1 ½ cups rice and sauté, stirring frequently, until the rice is golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add the chicken stock and bay leaf and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 14 minutes. Remove from the heat and let sit, covered, for 10 minutes, or until all the liquid are absorbed.

Mix together the rices in a bowl, and fold in the pistachios and pomegranate seeds.

Remove the bay lea. Serve immediately or at room temperature.

6 servings.

*There is a separate recipe in the book which makes 1 pound of Spiced Butter. I used some of the same spices that the Spiced Butter called for and added them to the pan such as: cumin, cardamom, garlic, oregano, basil and turmeric.