Pomegranates & Artichokes

When Iranian writer and food photographer Saghar Setareh moved to Italy at the age of 22, she was enchanted by the rich food culture of her adopted country. This inspired a curiosity in the cuisine of her homeland and the surrounding countries of the Levant and Eastern Mediterranean. Pomegranates & Artichokes is the story of Saghar's own culinary journey from Iran to Italy, in which she describes the many parallels that link Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food cultures, and shows how ingredients and recipes—unconstrained by borders—are shared and transformed through the immigrant experience.

Divided into three sections representing stops on Saghar's culinary 'road trip'—Iran, In Between, and Italy—this book features more than 80 recipes celebrating the foods of these regions. Among the highlights are a simple Iranian breakfast platter, a celebratory Persian feast, Sicilian-style stuffed artichokes, guinea hen braised with pomegranate, sweet-sour meatballs from Aleppo, a Roman ricotta and wild cherry pie, and a velvety Middle Eastern milk pudding.

Illustrated with Saghar's own beautiful photography and peppered with personal insights and experiences, Pomegranates & Artichokes tells the story of two food cultures, and the delicious space in between.

"Rich with detail, this beautiful and beautifully written book bridges two culinary worlds and invites us to cook." Rachel Roddy

"I have been following Saghar's work for many years, always hoping that her unique story, her sense of beauty and deliciousness will eventually materialise in a brilliant book. And my wishes have finally come through. Just like the beautiful Iranian tapestries featured in the book, Saghar's food and story is rich with culture, history, and beauty. I cannot wait to cook from it and lose myself in its pages." Olia Hercules

"I have been waiting eagerly for Saghar to tell her story through her food and images and this book does not disappoint; I want to sit at her table and listen to her talk about food over her grandmother's bicoloured tea, but the next best thing is getting lost in her photography, finding connections that transcend physical places, and poring over the kind of food that I want to immediately cook for friends and neighbours." Emiko Davies

"An utterly enchanting book that captures the essence of migration and the magnificence of Iran's culinary traditions. With its stunning photography, captivating stories, and mouth-watering recipes, I want to devour it all." Yasmin Khan

"With her debut cookbook Pomegranates & Artichokes, Saghar Setareh guides us on a spirited and soulful culinary journey. Setareh's stunning photography casts a warm light on the true essence of the people and cuisine of each region. This is not a cookbook lost in the nostalgia of a bygone era, but an invitation to Setareh's table firmly planted in the here and now. And what a delicious table it is. I can't wait to get cooking from this beautiful cookbook!" Naz Deravian