Description
A delicious Persian-style pomegranate chicken stew known as Fesenjan, featuring tender chicken thighs simmered in a rich sauce of walnuts and pomegranate juice.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds bone-in, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 cup walnuts, finely ground
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup pomegranate juice
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- Pomegranate seeds and fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Season the chicken thighs with salt, black pepper, cinnamon, and turmeric. Add the chicken to the pot and brown on all sides, about 8-10 minutes.
- Stir in the ground walnuts and cook for an additional 2 minutes, allowing the nuts to toast slightly.
- Pour in the chicken broth and pomegranate juice, then add the brown sugar and lemon juice. Stir well to combine.
- Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, cover, and reduce the heat to low. Cook for 45 minutes to 1 hour, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is tender and the sauce has thickened.
- If desired, add cayenne pepper for a bit of heat and adjust seasoning to taste.
- Serve the stew warm, garnished with pomegranate seeds and fresh parsley.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, substitute the chicken with hearty vegetables like eggplant and mushrooms, and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
- Serve the stew over fluffy basmati rice or with warm pita bread to soak up the delicious sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Persian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: varies
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: varies
- Unsaturated Fat: varies
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: varies
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: varies
Keywords: Persian-Style Pomegranate Chicken Stew, Fesenjan, Persian cuisine, chicken stew, pomegranate recipes