Fesenjan (Walnut Pomegranate Chicken)

User Reviews

5.0

9 reviews
Excellent

Fesenjan (Walnut Pomegranate Chicken)

Fesenjan is a popular Persian stew full of tender chicken, chickpeas, and onions in a thick, spiced pomegranate and walnut broth.

I Made This!

Be the first!

Save this

Be the first!

Ingredients

Servings
  • 1.5 pounds chicken breast chopped (See Note 1)
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 yellow onions sliced
  • 15 oz chickpeas drained, rinsed
  • 1 cinnamon stick

Sauce

  • 2 cups walnuts toasted
  • 2 cups chicken stock
  • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/2 cup pomegranate molasses

Serving

  • Serve with saffron infused rice or see Note 2
  • Garnish- mint sprig and pomegranate seeds
Add to Shopping List

Instructions

  1. Heat the oil in a large deep skillet (or Dutch oven) over medium-high heat. Cook sliced onion in 2 batches for 4 to 5 minutes, or until a deep golden brown. Transfer to paper towel lined plate to drain, season with salt. Repeat with remaining onions. Leave remaining oil in pan to cook chicken.
  2. Toast walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for several minutes and fragrant. Do not burn or sauce will be bitter. Remove from pan and cool.
  3. In a blender add the toasted walnuts, chicken stock, turmeric, cumin, salt, nutmeg and black pepper. Puree until blended. Set aside.
  4. Heat large deep skillet (or Dutch oven) over medium-high heat with oil from onions and add 1 tablespoon oil. Transfer chicken to pan, saute for 5 minutes, or until golden in color on all sides.
  5. Scatter half the crispy onions on top of chicken, layer the chickpeas and cinnamon stick on top of onions. Pour the walnut sauce on top of chickpeas and drizzle the pomegranate molasses all over the top. Cover and cook on low for 15 minutes (20 minutes if using chicken thighs). Remove lid and stir through to mix everything. Remove and discard cinnamon stick.
  6. Serve with Fesenjan spooned over rice of choice (See Note 2) and pomegranate seeds on top.

Notes

  • I use chicken breast meat because it has a lesser cook time. Feel free to use chicken thighs, skin on, bone in if preferred. Cook over medium heat, covered, for 10 minutes. Remove lid, turn chicken and cook for another 10 minutes.
  • Rice suggestions: steamed saffron basmati rice, Sabzi Polo, Lubia Polo, Rice with Tahdig or Tachin.

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Calories 653kcal (33%) Carbohydrates 37g (12%) Protein 38g (76%) Fat 28g (43%) Saturated Fat 5g (25%) Polyunsaturated Fat 21g Monounsaturated Fat 12g Trans Fat 0.01g Cholesterol 75mg (25%) Sodium 834mg (35%) Potassium 902mg (26%) Fiber 8g (32%) Sugar 13g (26%) Vitamin A 70IU (1%) Vitamin C 3mg (3%) Calcium 92mg (9%) Iron 4mg (22%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 653 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories 653kcal 33%
Carbohydrates 37g 12%
Protein 38g 76%
Fat 28g 43%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Polyunsaturated Fat 21g 124%
Monounsaturated Fat 12g 60%
Trans Fat 0.01g 1%
Cholesterol 75mg 25%
Sodium 834mg 35%
Potassium 902mg 19%
Fiber 8g 32%
Sugar 13g 26%
Vitamin A 70IU 1%
Vitamin C 3mg 3%
Calcium 92mg 9%
Iron 4mg 22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Genuine Reviews

User Reviews

Overall Rating

5.0

9 reviews
Excellent

Write a Review

Drag & drop files here or click to upload
Other Recipes

You'll Also Love

Vegetarian Fesenjan

Middle Eastern
0.0 (0 reviews)

Khoresh-e Fesenjān

Middle Eastern, Persian
5.0 (3 reviews)

Fesenjan

Middle Eastern, Persian
5.0 (3 reviews)

Khoresh-e Fesenjān

Middle Eastern, Iranian
0.0 (0 reviews)

Fesenjan

Middle Eastern, Persian
4.8 (66 reviews)

Fesenjoon (Fesenjān)

Persian
4.9 (249 reviews)

Pomegranate Sumac Chicken

Middle Eastern
5.0 (15 reviews)

1-Pot Pomegranate Chicken and Rice Casserole

Middle Eastern, Israeli
5.0 (3 reviews)

Pomegranate Chicken (Morgh-e Nardooni)

Middle Eastern, Persian
5.0 (12 reviews)

Sticky Pomegranate Chicken Wraps

Fusion, Persian, Iranian
0.0 (0 reviews)