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

37 Ratings

Fesenjan (Persian Pomegranate Chicken) Recipe (2)

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)

  • Dinners
  • Comfort Food
  • Gluten-Free Dinners
  • Chicken Breast
  • Chicken Thighs
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 does fesenjan taste like? ›

Fesenjan or fesenjoon is a traditional Persian stew made with chicken simmered in a pomegranate molasses and walnut sauce. The combination of earthy walnuts, slightly sour pomegranate molasses and tender, juicy chicken create an unparalleled balance of flavors in this special occasion dish.

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.

How many calories are in fesenjan? ›

FESENJAN NUTRITIONAL VALUES & CALORIES

3.5 ounces (102 grams) of fesenjan has 338 calories.

How do you reheat fesenjan? ›

To serve, let it thaw in the fridge overnight. To reheat fesenjan, place it in in a small pot and turn the heat on to medium low. Stir occasionally so it doesn't stick to the pot. It takes about 20 minutes to reheat completely.

What is the Persian spice for pomegranate? ›

Angelica or Persian Hogweed ( Golpar)

Golpar goes very well with pomegranate arils. This Iranian spice with vinegar makes a tasty mixture for dipping well-cooked fava beans – a typical healthy snack for winter nights in Iran.

What does pomegranate mean in Iran? ›

Ancient Iranians believed that the pomegranate was a sign of fertility due to its abundant seeds. It is a high pillar of festivities on Yalda Night. Narratives say the presence of pomegranates symbolizes blessings for a new life. The number of seeds scattered indicates how many children a young woman may give birth to!

What is the Persian name for pomegranate? ›

Iran. In Persian, pomegranate is known as anar.

Who invented fesenjān? ›

Fesenjan is believed to have originated in Gilan province, a temperate green swath of land along the Caspian Sea in the north of Iran, where wild ducks are plentiful. Gilanis have a taste for tart, fruity flavors like those in this dish, which has been around in one form or another since the days of the Persian Empire.

Is pomegranate high in calories? ›

Overall, pomegranates are low in calories and fat but high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Below is the nutrition for the arils in one average pomegranate: Calories: 234. Protein: 4.7 grams (g)

How many calories are in 2 pomegranates? ›

How Many Calories Does One Pomegranate Have?
Portion SizeCalories
Calories in 1 pomegranate fruit (282 g)234
Calories in two pomegranates (564 g)468
Pomegranate calories in 100 g68
Calories in pomegranate (28 g)19
2 more rows

How many calories are in Khoresht fesenjan? ›

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
743Calories
52gFat
49gCarbs
29gProtein

How do you say fesenjan? ›

  1. Phonetic spelling of fesenjan. fe-s-en-jan.
  2. Meanings for fesenjan. Fesenjān is an Iranian gravy that is made with eggplant and Chicken and seasoned with pomegranate paste and ground walnuts and spices.
  3. Translations of fesenjan. Russian : фесенджан

What is fesenjoon made of? ›

Khoresh-e Fesenjoon is a popular Persian dish made with pomegranate molasses, ground walnuts, and meat. It has a unique sweet and sour taste and is usually served with steamed saffron rice.

How do you use leftover pomegranate seeds? ›

STIR INTO GRAINS — Add pomegranate seeds to cooked rice, quinoa, farro, or other grains to add color and tang. ADD TO FRUIT SALAD — Pomegranate seeds marry well with other fall fruits, particularly persimmons and pears. Add a drizzle of honey and call it dessert.

What does pomegranate taste similar to? ›

Flavor: With an unusual fruit like pomegranate, it's safe to wonder, what does pomegranate taste like? Pomegranate arils taste a lot like cranberries—fairly tart with a bit of sweetness underneath.

What does pomegranate taste like in your mouth? ›

Generally, pomegranate juice (PJ) provides a sweet and sour taste, musty/earthy and fruity odors, and an astringent mouthfeel [7] .

Does pomegranate taste nice? ›

Pomegranate is a fruit that is sweet and tart with a thick skin. The part of this fruit that you eat is the seeds since they contain juicy flavors. The pomegranate's flavor is sometimes compared to both grapes and cranberries. While it may look slightly different from other fruits, it is just as tasty.

What does Iranian food taste like? ›

Persian food is mild. There is no overpowering smell, taste, or colour because it is all about balance. Iranians use lots of dried fruits such as plums, barberries, and aromatic herbs and spices like cardamom, cinnamon, and saffron in most main dishes.

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