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5.0 from 6 votes

Persian Eggplant Stew (Khoresh Bademjan)

This eggplant stew, or khoresh bademjan, is a traditional Persian dish made with tender eggplant in a robust, spiced tomato-based sauce.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
57 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 195 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Middle Eastern

Ingredients

  • 4 tbsp olive oil divided
  • 2 lbs eggplant peeled and cubed (See Note 1)
  • 1 tbsp kosher salt
  • 1 large white onion finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/4 cup tomato paste
  • 1 tsp Turmeric
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 28 oz tomatoes whole and peeled tomatoes, drained
  • 1/4 cup pomegranate molasses (See Note 1)
  • 1/4 tsp saffron
  • 3 dried limes or 2 tbsp fresh lime juice

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Place eggplant in a large colander set over a bowl. Sprinkle with a tablespoon of kosher salt and set aside to drain.
  2. Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until golden and translucent, about 7 minutes. Next, add tomato paste, garlic, turmeric, salt, pepper, and cinnamon; continue cooking for another 2 minutes.
  3. Gently squeeze water from eggplant and pat it dry with paper towel. Add eggplant to pan with remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Cook, stirring often, until eggplant is tender and starts to brown at the edges, about 15 minutes.
  4. Add tomatoes and pomegranate molasses, then use your fingers to crush saffron into the pan. Pierce the Persian limes with a fork and stir them into the stew.
  5. Bring stew to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover pot with lid and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve with cooked rice.

Notes

  •  
  • There are several varieties of eggplant. The best for making this eggplant stew are either Chinese (long and slender) or Italian, as they have firm flesh and fewer seeds than other varieties.
  • Good substitutes for pomegranate molasses are cranberry juice and grenadine, or raspberry jam and lemon juice.

Nutrition Information

Calories 195kcal (10%) Carbohydrates 47g (16%) Protein 7g (14%) Fat 1g (2%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Sodium 689mg (29%) Potassium 1384mg (40%) Fiber 13g (52%) Sugar 26g (52%) Vitamin A 756IU (15%) Vitamin C 44mg (49%) Calcium 124mg (12%) Iron 4mg (22%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 195

% Daily Value*

Calories 195kcal 10%
Carbohydrates 47g 16%
Protein 7g 14%
Fat 1g 2%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Sodium 689mg 29%
Potassium 1384mg 29%
Fiber 13g 52%
Sugar 26g 52%
Vitamin A 756IU 15%
Vitamin C 44mg 49%
Calcium 124mg 12%
Iron 4mg 22%

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