Fesenjan (Persian Pomegranate Chicken) Recipe (2024)

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Fesenjan is a Persian chicken stew made with chicken breasts or thighs that are slowly cooked with ground toasted walnuts and pomegranate molasses.

By

Elise Bauer

Fesenjan (Persian Pomegranate Chicken) Recipe (1)

Elise Bauer

Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.

Learn about Simply Recipes'Editorial Process

Updated September 29, 2023

Fesenjan (Persian Pomegranate Chicken) Recipe (2)

37 ratings

Here is a stew made for fall! This chicken stew with walnut and pomegranate sauce recipe is a classic preparation in Persian cooking: Fesenjan.

Chicken pieces are first browned and then slowly cooked in a sauce with ground toasted walnuts and pomegranate molasses. You might not normally think to make a sauce with walnuts and pomegranates, but it's a perfect combination!

Fesenjan (Persian Pomegranate Chicken) Recipe (3)

The toasted walnuts are rich and warm and the pomegranate molasses sharp and berry toned. Cooked slowly with the chicken, the sauce is spectacular. Bowl-licking good.

The only ingredient that might be a little hard to find at your local grocery store is the pomegranate molasses. You can make your own with pomegranate juice (see our recipe for pomegranate molasses), or look for it at Whole Foods or a store that carries Middle Eastern ingredients.

Fesenjan (Persian Pomegranate Chicken) Recipe (4)

Fesenjan (Persian Pomegranate Chicken)

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time2 hrs

Total Time2 hrs 10 mins

Servings6to 8 servings

Make your own pomegranate molasses by simmering 1 cup of pomegranate juiceuntil it reduces to 5 tablespoons of syrup.

Ingredients

  • 1 to 2 large yellow onions, chopped, (3 cups)

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

  • 5 tablespoonspomegranate molasses

  • 8 ounces walnut halves (about 2 cups)

  • 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs and/or breasts, trimmed of excess fat, cut into medium size pieces, patted dry and salted

  • 2 cups chicken stock

  • 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons of sugar

  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric

  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

  • Salt

  • 1/2 cup fresh pomegranate arilsfor garnish, optional

Method

  1. Toast and grind the walnuts:

    You can toast the walnuts in one of two ways. You can either spread them out in a single layer in a large skillet, and toast them on medium high heat, stirring frequently until lightly toasted, OR you can spread them out in a single layer in a baking rimmed baking sheet, and toast at 350°F in the oven for 8 to 10 minutes.

    In either case, once toasted, remove from heat and allow to cool. Once cool enough to handle, pulse in a food processor or blender until finely ground.

    Fesenjan (Persian Pomegranate Chicken) Recipe (5)

  2. Brown the chicken pieces on all sides:

    In a large pan, heat 1 tablespoon of butter and 2 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat.

    When the butter has melted, pat the chicken pieces dry again and place the chicken pieces in the pan, working in batches if necessary to not crowd the pan, and cook until golden brown on all sides. Sprinkle the chicken with salt while they are cooking.

    Fesenjan (Persian Pomegranate Chicken) Recipe (6)

  3. Sauté the onions:

    Use a slotted spoon or tongs to remove the chicken from the pan, set aside. Add a tablespoon of butter and a tablespoon of oil to the pan. Lower the heat to medium low. Add chopped onions to the pan and sauté until translucent, stirring on occasion to release the browned bits from the bottom of the pan.

    Fesenjan (Persian Pomegranate Chicken) Recipe (7)

  4. Add chicken and stock:

    Return the chicken pieces to the pan with the onions. Pour 2 cups of chicken stock over the chicken and onions. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, cover and simmer gently for 30 minutes.

    Fesenjan (Persian Pomegranate Chicken) Recipe (8)

  5. Add ground walnuts, pomegranate molasses, sugar, spices, cover and cook:

    Stir in the ground walnuts, pomegranate molasses, sugar, and spices. Cover and cook on very low heat for 1 hour, stirring every 20 minutes or so to prevent the walnuts from sticking to the bottom of the pan.

    Remove from heat and adjust sugar/salt to taste. At this point the chicken should be fall apart tender.

    Fesenjan (Persian Pomegranate Chicken) Recipe (9)

    Fesenjan (Persian Pomegranate Chicken) Recipe (10)

  6. Serve:

    Garnish with pomegranate seeds. Serve over parsi pulao or other favorite rice.

Links:

Slow cooker pomegranate chicken salad from Lydia of The Perfect Pantry

Fesenjan (Persian Pomegranate Chicken) Recipe (11)

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
568Calories
37g Fat
31g Carbs
34g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6to 8
Amount per serving
Calories568
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 37g47%
Saturated Fat 7g36%
Cholesterol 148mg49%
Sodium 375mg16%
Total Carbohydrate 31g11%
Dietary Fiber 4g14%
Total Sugars 23g
Protein 34g
Vitamin C 10mg48%
Calcium 59mg5%
Iron 2mg14%
Potassium 737mg16%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

Fesenjan (Persian Pomegranate Chicken) Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between fesenjoon and mole? ›

But unlike mole, Fesenjoon has a robust, tangy, earthy flavor; whereas mole has a deeper note of cocoa and chile. The ingredients for this sweet and sour Persian stew are simple: crushed walnuts, pomegranate syrup and chicken.

What is the meaning of fesenjan? ›

Fesenjān is an elaborate dish that is often reserved for special occasions. It is considered "a rich man's dish", which is referenced in the Persian expression "he behaves as if he has had partridge and fesenjān", meaning to show off or act pretentiously.

What does fesenjan taste like? ›

Fesenjan is a classic Persian stew made with walnuts, pomegranate molasses and usually chicken. It's sweet and sour with a rich nutty flavor thanks to the walnuts. The key to a delicious fesenjoon is to cook it low and slow for a few hours.

What do you drink with Fesenjan? ›

Pairing wines with Fesenjan involves balancing its sweet, tangy, and earthy flavors. Beaujolais, Gewürztraminer, Chianti Classico, and Freisa each offer unique complementary characteristics for this rich and flavorful dish.

What is mole without chocolate called? ›

Mole Amarillo

The first type of mole is mole amarillo, and this sauce prominently features varied chilies and dried fruits. Corn flour is also used to give this type of mole more body. No chocolate is used to flavor mole Camarillo.

Is mole always made with chocolate? ›

Is there chocolate in mole? If you think that mole sauce is a chocolate sauce, well, you are not alone. People mistakenly think that mole is also a chocolate sauce, but in reality, not all mole sauce contains chocolate. You see, there are several types of mole sauces – some may contain chocolate but others don't.

How do you say fesenjan? ›

If Ghormeh Sabzi is Michael Jackson, Fesenjan (pronounced fesen-joon) is Prince. Its fans are die-hard.

Can you freeze fesenjan? ›

Storing and Reheating

Once it has cooled down, store Fesenjan in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer. It will last up to 4 days in the fridge and 3 months in the freezer. Fully defrost before reheating.

What is the Persian name for pomegranate? ›

Anar means pomegranate in Persian. The city contains a Sassanian castle named Anar Castle.

What alcohol goes well with Persian food? ›

Aromatics like garlic, onion, parsley, and cilantro call for a crisp, acidic white like a Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc. Vibrant spices like cumin or Harissa might prefer a sweeter white such as a Riesling, or an earthy red like a Pinot Noir or Syrah.

What is the Iranian special drink? ›

Chai, tea, is the national drink, always on the brew in every Iranian home, shop and office, even at rustic roadside stops. It's traditionally made in a samovar-style device with a small pot of strong tea on top of a larger pot of boiling water, so each person can dilute the tea to their preferred strength.

What do Iranians drink with dinner? ›

To conclude Iran offers a diverse and delicious cuisine with a variety of traditional Persian drinks, including yogurt drinks, sweet traditional Sharbats, herbal teas, and teas. Doogh, a popular soft drink made with yogurt, salt, water, and herbs, is a healthy and delicious option for pairing with meals.

What's the difference between the mole and Avogadro's number? ›

The mole, or “mol” is a unit of measurement in chemistry, used to designate a very large number of molecules, atoms, or particles. This very large number is called Avogadro's Number: 6.02214 x 1023, the number of units in a mole. These numbers are very important for telling us about the quantity of elements.

How do you tell the difference between a normal mole and a melanoma? ›

Normal moles are usually round with smooth edges. Melanomas are often an uneven shape. They may have 2 different shaped halves and uneven edges.

What is the old name for a mole? ›

Terminology. In Middle English, moles were known as moldwarps.

What is mole used for in Mexican food? ›

Besides being added to meats, mole is often used as a sauce for enchiladas. Mole can also be used in burritos and tacos along with meat or just as a saucy addition to vegetables, rice or beans.

References

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