Recipe · Serves 4

Fesenjan – Persian Walnut and Pomegranate Stew

Fesenjan: pomegranate and walnuts in perfect harmony. At Santoor, you can taste it any day!

Fesenjan is a Persian chicken stew with pomegranate paste and walnuts. However, you can also make it with lamb or beef. In fact, it is rich and full of flavour. Therefore, families often serve it on special days. Try our recipe and enjoy the taste of Persia!

Fesenjan – Persian stew with walnut and pomegranate sauce

Ingredients for Fesenjan (serves 4)

  • 500 g chicken legs or breast (or lamb or beef, cut small)
  • 200 g ground walnuts
  • 1 cup pomegranate paste (sweet or sour, as you like)
  • 2–3 tbsp sugar (optional)
  • 1 large onion (finely chopped)
  • Salt, pepper and turmeric
  • 3–4 cups water
  • Oil

Santoor tips for the perfect sauce

  • Pomegranate paste: for example, use sweet or sour paste, or mix both, as you like.
  • Walnuts: above all, good walnuts are key to the taste and texture of the sauce.
  • Thickness: for a thicker sauce, simply let it simmer longer on low heat.

Step-by-step method

  1. Toast the walnuts

    First, toast the ground walnuts in a dry pan on low heat until they smell nutty. Be careful not to burn them, or they turn bitter.

  2. Fry the onions

    Then heat a little oil in a large pot and fry the onion until golden. Next, add the turmeric and fry briefly.

  3. Add the meat or chicken

    Now add the chicken or meat and brown it lightly. Season with salt and pepper.

  4. Add the walnuts and water

    After that, stir in the toasted walnuts and pour in 3–4 cups of water to cover. Let the stew simmer on low to medium heat for 1.5–2 hours. As a result, the walnuts release their oil and the sauce turns thick and creamy.

  5. Stir in the pomegranate paste

    Now stir in the pomegranate paste. If needed, add a little sugar until sweet and sour are in balance. Simmer for another 30 minutes until the meat is tender.

  6. Serve

    Finally, serve the stew with steaming basmati rice. If you like, sprinkle fresh pomegranate seeds on top.

Why Fesenjan at Santoor?

At Santoor, we cook this dish with the best produce and lots of love. In short, we want you to enjoy a meal full of tradition and joy. Of course, our kitchen is 100% halal.

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