Chicken Fesenjan

(from castro15’s recipe box)

Categories: Chicken

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups walnut halves, toasted
  • 6 large skinless, bone-in chicken thighs (2 1/2-3 lbs)
  • 3/4 tsp salt, divided
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 large onion, sliced
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp saffron
  • 1/8 tsp ground cardamom
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1/3 cup pomegranate molasses
  • 2 tbsp. honey
  • 1 tbsp. lemon juice
  • Pomegranate seeds and chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Directions

  1. Pulse walnuts in a food processor until coarsely ground.

  2. Sprinkle chicken with 1/2 tsp salt and pepper. Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned, 4-6 minutes. Remove to a plate.

  3. Reduce heat to medium. Add onion and water to the pot; cook, stirring and scraping up any browned bits, until the onion is lightly brown and soft, about 5 minutes. Add cinnamon, saffron and cardamom and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Add the walnuts, broth, pomegranate molasses and honey. Bring to a boil.

  4. Return the chicken to the pot and turn to coat with sauce. Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer. Partially cover and cook until cooked through, 15-20 minutes. Remove the chicken to a clean plate; keep warm.

  5. Add lemon juice and the remaining 1/4 tsp salt to the sauce. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring often, until reduce by about one-third, 3-5 minutes. Serve the chicken with the sauce, garnished with pomegranate seeds and parsley.

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