Fesenjan (Iranian Special Occasion Dish)

[rahim28]

Another Healthy food from Persia ( be my guest )
Fesenjan (Iranian Special Occasion Dish)  (comes separately with steamed cooked rice)
INGREDIENTS :
1/4 cup olive oil
2 small onions, sliced thin
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
2 1/2 cups walnuts, finely ground
2/3 cup pomegranate syrup
2 1/2 cups stock or 2 1/2 cups water
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon salt
2 teaspoons pepper
1 1/4 teaspoons saffron
2 limes, juice of
2 1/2-3 lbs bone-in poultry, of choice

Directions:                                ( Prep Time: 15 minsTotal Time: 1 1/4 hr )

1Heat butter or oil over medium heat in a large Dutch oven.2Add onions and sauté until wilted and translucent.3Add garlic, cinnamon and nutmeg and sauté, stirring, for another 1-2 minutes.4Stir in walnuts, pomegranate syrup, stock, sugar, salt, pepper and saffron.5Adjust sugar and salt to taste.6Bring to a low boil and simmer 1/2 hour.7Add chicken and simmer on low heat another 30-60 minutes.8Halfway through the cooking time, add the lime juice to taste.9The sauce will thicken and darken during this cooking time, and the oil will begin to render out of the walnuts.10Add water or stock if necessary to prevent the sauce from thickening too much and scorching.11Serve with plain white rice.12NOTES Fesenjan is special occasion food in Iran.13It is traditionally made with duck or pheasant in the north of the country along the Caspian sea.14It is a thick, rich, sweet-sour dish that improves in flavor the next day.15Pomegranate syrup is available in most Middle Eastern and health food stores.16If it is unavailable, you can use an equal amount of frozen, concentrated cranberry juice.17The flavor is roughly the same.18You can use a whole bone-in chicken if you like.19Cut it into 8 serving pieces and remove most of the skin.20The bones will give the dish a richer flavor.

[rahim28]

You welcome Margy
May be you can find a pomagranate syrup in Persian or Arabian food stores there.

[margypops]

Pomegranite syrup thats unusual  I may not find that but I see you say cranberry juice can be used .I would use a chicken in it ,we dont see  duck or pheasant at least not in my neck of the woods,My guess is this would be an old dish from Persia rahim, I like the old name for Iran...Going to try this next week I have this holidays food planned already ...thank you for a super taste of Persia ...