Khoresht Fesenjaan (Chicken with Pomegranate Sauce)
A beloved Persian stew where chicken simmers with ground walnuts and pomegranate juice, yielding a deep, tangy-sweet sauce balanced by warm cardamom, cinnamon, and a touch of saffron. Butternut squash adds gentle sweetness and body. Serve Khoresht Fesenjaan with white rice for a comforting, celebratory meal that feels special yet homey.
- Prep20 mins
- Cook3 hrs 30 mins
- Serves12
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Khoresht Fesenjaan (Chicken with Pomegranate Sauce), not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 51 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 38 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 57 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
- 1 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 63
- Heart Health
- 71
- Metabolic
- 54
- Digestive
- 30
- Inflammatory
- 43
- Performance
- 48
- General Wellness
- 1
Heat the oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat.
- 2
Stir in the sliced onions; cook and stir until the onion softens and turns translucent, about 5 minutes.
- 3
Reduce the heat to medium-low, and continue cooking and stirring until the onion is very tender and dark brown, 15 to 20 minutes more.
- 4
Raise the heat to medium-high.
- 5
Add the chicken pieces, and fry until lightly browned on the outside.
- 6
Pour in the water and bring to a boil.
- 7
Reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 30 minutes, adding more water if needed to keep the mixture from drying out.
- 8
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (65 degrees C).
- 9
Combine the walnuts and pomegranate juice in a blender or food processor.
- 10
Process until liquid. (Do this in small batches if needed.)
- 11
Add the walnut-pomegranate mixture to the simmering chicken.
- 12
Season with cardamom, cinnamon, saffron powder, and salt.
- 13
Stir in the cubed squash.
- 14
Transfer the entire mixture to a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- 15
Bake, loosely covered, for 2 1/2 hours in the preheated oven.
- 16
Serve with white rice.
- Calories 676.08 kcal High 34%
- Protein 32.17 g Good Source 64%
- Carbohydrate 33.15 g 12%
- Total Fat 48.83 g High 63%
- Saturated Fat 7.29 g High 36%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 79.37 mg High 26%
- Sodium 84.34 mg Low Source 4%
- Dietary Fiber 7.29 g Good Source 26%
- Total Sugars 13.15 g --
- Added Sugars 1.67 g Low Source 3%
- Calcium 117.21 mg Low Source 9%
- Iron 2.93 mg Moderate 16%
- Potassium 749.3 mg Moderate 16%
- Vitamin A 532.44 mcg Good Source 59%
- Vitamin C 21.05 mg Good Source 23%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Tree Nuts 🌰
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Khoresht Fesenjaan (Chicken with Pomegranate Sauce) is made with 11 ingredients and serves 12. It takes about 3 hrs 50 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Bone In Loin Pork Chop, Butternut Squash, Chopped Walnuts, and Ground Cardamom. Each serving provides about 676.08 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Khoresht Fesenjaan (Chicken with Pomegranate Sauce) made of?
- The main ingredients are Bone-In Loin Pork Chop, Butternut Squash, Chopped Walnuts, Ground Cardamom, Ground Cinnamon. The full list of 11 is above.
- How long does it take to make Khoresht Fesenjaan (Chicken with Pomegranate Sauce)?
- About 3 hrs 50 mins in total: 20 mins to prepare and 3 hrs 30 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 676.08 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Khoresht Fesenjaan (Chicken with Pomegranate Sauce) easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 11 ingredients and 16 steps.
- Is Khoresht Fesenjaan (Chicken with Pomegranate Sauce) healthy?
- Khoresht Fesenjaan (Chicken with Pomegranate Sauce) has an easyChef Pro health score of 48/100. Per serving, it provides 676.08 calories and 32.17 g of protein, or 64% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber, vitamin A and vitamin C. Worth noting per serving: saturated fat at 7.29 g (36% of the Daily Value). It contains Tree Nuts and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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