Fesenjan (Persian Pomegranate Chicken) Recipe (2024)

FAQs

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

Iran. In Persian, pomegranate is known as anar.

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.

FESENJAN NUTRITIONAL VALUES & CALORIES

Fesenjan is a traditional Iranian dish. Fesenjan is high in manganese. 3.5 ounces (102 grams) of fesenjan has 338 calories.

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.

Can you heat up pomegranate? ›

Heating pomegranate seeds can eliminate some of their flavor, so it is best to eat them fresh and raw or as a garnish.

Khoresh-e Fesenjoon is a traditional Persian stew that has been enjoyed in Iran for centuries. Its origins are believed to date back to the ancient times of the Persian Empire. The dish is named after its two main ingredients, "fesenjān" meaning pomegranate paste and "fesenjān" meaning walnut.

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

The word persimmon is derived from putchamin, pasiminan, pechimin or pessamin, from Powhatan, an Algonquian language of the southern and eastern United States, meaning "a dry fruit". Other sources have suggested that the word “persimmon” comes from a Persian word meaning date-plum.

Pomegranates have diverse cultural-religious significance, as a symbol of life and fertility owing to their many seeds but also as a symbol of power (imperial orb), blood and death. Pomegranates already symbolised fertility, beauty and eternal life, in Greek and Persian mythology.

The Arabic name (dibs rumaan or rub rumaan) and the Farsi name (rob-e-anar) mean "thickened pomegranate juice." The Turkish name "sour pomegranate" (nar ekşisi) best fits what pomegranate molasses is.