Best 20 Persian Chicken Recipes

JUJEH KABOB (PERSIAN CHICKEN KABOBS)

Steps:

• Combine onion, lime juice, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and saffron in a large glass bowl. Mix in olive oil. Press chicken into the bowl lightly and cover with plastic wrap. Let marinate for 6 hours to overnight, mixing every few hours to make sure chicken is coated.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Remove chicken from the bowl, shake off excess marinade, and discard marinade left in the bowl. Place chicken onto metal skewers, making sure it's not too tightly packed.
• Cook skewers on the preheated grill until chicken is browned and no longer pink in the center, turning as needed, 10 to 15 minutes total.

PERSIAN CHICKEN WITH TURMERIC AND LIME

Steps:

• Mix chicken, onion, turmeric, chopped garlic, lime juice, 1 Tbsp. oil, 2 tsp. cumin, 1 tsp. salt, and 3/4 tsp. pepper in a medium bowl.
• Heat 1 Tbsp. oil over medium in a heavy medium saucepan. Add rice and smashed garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until lightly toasted and fragrant, 1-2 minutes. Stir in cardamom, cinnamon, 1/4 tsp. salt, and remaining 1/4 tsp. cumin and 1/4 tsp. pepper. Add 1 3/4 cups water and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and gently simmer, covered, until water is evaporated and rice is cooked, 18-20 minutes. Remove from heat. Let sit, covered, until ready to serve.
• Meanwhile, heat remaining 1 Tbsp. oil over medium-high in a large skillet until very hot but not smoking. Add chicken mixture and cook, stirring occasionally, until chicken is cooked through, 6-8 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in yogurt, if using, then adjust seasoning to taste. Cover to keep warm.
• Gently toss cucumber, herbs, and remaining 1/4 tsp. salt in a small bowl.
• Fluff rice with a fork and divide among bowls. Spoon chicken over. Top with cucumber salad, pistachios, and sumac, if using. Generously squeeze lime wedges over.

KHORESH-E FESENJOON (PERSIAN CHICKEN STEW WITH POMEGRANATE AND WALNUTS)

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spread walnuts out on a baking sheet and toast until golden brown inside, about 12 minutes. Set aside to cool to room temperature.
• Remove chicken skin and discard or save for another use. In a large bowl, season the chicken with turmeric, 2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Set aside.
• Set a large Dutch oven or similar pot over medium-high heat. When the pot is hot, add oil and carefully lay chicken thighs into the pot in a single layer. It is crucial to leave space between the pieces to allow steam to escape, so brown chicken in batches if necessary. Cook until browned on both sides, flipping halfway through, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Remove chicken from pot and set aside. Add onion to pot with a pinch of salt and cook, stirring regularly, until soft and golden brown, 16 to 18 minutes.
• In a food processor, grind the cooled walnuts as finely as possible without turning them into a paste. (Alternatively, you can chop the walnuts as finely as possible by hand.) Add 2 cups pomegranate juice and 1/4 cup molasses to the walnuts and continue blending until you have a very smooth paste.
• Add the walnut paste and remaining pomegranate juice to the pot. Season with salt and partly cover with a lid. Cook over low heat, stirring frequently, for about 2 hours. If the sauce begins to stick, stir in 1/4 cup water. The sauce will thicken and change color as it cooks, turning a deep, dark brown, similar to mole poblano.
• Add the saffron, and taste the sauce. Adjust seasoning with salt, pepper and pomegranate molasses as needed. The sauce should be delightfully sweet and sour, so add up to 2 teaspoons sugar, if needed, if it's too tart.
• Add the chicken to the sauce and simmer, uncovered, for 45 minutes, or until chicken is falling off the bone. Keep stirring regularly - the sauce should be thick, but not so thick that it sticks to the bottom of the pot, so add a splash of water as needed to prevent burning. Use a large spoon to skim away any walnut oil that has pooled on top of the stew. Taste and adjust seasoning, transfer to a serving dish and garnish with a sprinkling of fresh pomegranate seeds. Serve hot, with Persian rice, mast-o khiar and salad-e Shirazi if you like.

CHELO KABOB (PERSIAN RICE WITH CHICKEN KABOB)

Steps:

• Combine chicken, diced onion, black pepper, salt, 1/4 teaspoon turmeric, 1/4 teaspoon saffron, and cayenne in a bowl. Shape mixture into long, sausage-like kabob shapes, or shape around skewers and put aside in the refrigerator.
• Put the leftover saffron minus a pinch in 2 tablespoons warm water so that it lets out its color.
• Bring 3 cups water and cardamom pods to a boil; add rice, reduce heat, and let simmer until tender and water has been absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes, making sure not to overcook or undercook. Drain out any remaining starch water.
• Place a pot over low heat. Add 1 tablespoon butter, remaining turmeric, and reserved pinch of saffron; saute a bit then add the rice on top to dry out the excess water. Drizzle the saffron water on top and add 1 tablespoon butter. Cover and let simmer until the rice is fluffy, about 5 minutes.
• Melt remaining butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Fry kabobs in the hot oil until they are no longer pink in the centers, 5 to 7 minutes, flipping as needed. Place tomatoes and chopped onion on top and cover. Cook until tomatoes soften and release their juices (this helps it from getting too dry), about 5 minutes. Serve with rice.

JOOJEH KABOB (PERSIAN STYLE GRILLED CHICKEN)

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients in a bowl and let chicken sit in marinade for up to one day before grilling, preferably on a charcoal grill.
• Grill until juices from chicken run clear when chicken is pierced with knife.

PERSIAN CHICKEN

Steps:

• Wash 4 half chicken breasts (with bones and skin) and put them in a good-sized pot. Add celery rib, thyme, parsley sprigs, bay leaf, cracked peppercorns, and juniper berries.
• Barely cover the breasts with cold water, cover the pot, and bring to a gentle simmer (the surface of the water shakes and only a few bubbles break). Hold it there for 20 minutes; turn off the heat; let the breasts rest in the hot water for 10 minutes.
• Transfer chicken to a strainer. Let it rest until cool enough to handle and then cut or pull the meat into bite-sized pieces. Use the skin, bones, and broth to make stock for some other dish.
• Grind six or so handfuls of walnuts fine in a food processor to produce three cups. You want to end up with about three cups.
• Heat 5T unsalted butter in a large, heavy saucepan, and add onions, chopped fine. Cook onions until they are golden, 8 minutes or so. Add ground walnuts and stir constantly (very important) for about five minutes. They will stick if you don't stir.
• Add the lemon juice, salt, cinnamon, sugar, pomegranate juice, and two cups water. Cover pot and let mixture simmer for up to 40 minutes.
• Five minutes before you're ready to serve, add the chicken. Keep the heat low so it doesn't toughen up and cook it only until everything is heated through. Turn off the heat and let it rest if you must. It will stay hot for quite a while.

PERSIAN CHICKEN AND RICE

Steps:

• In a soup pot, melt the butter and cook the chicken for about 15 minutes, until brown on both sides; remove the chicken to a platter. Add the onion, apricots, and raisins and saute over medium heat for 2-3 minutes. Add the chicken broth, salt, pepper, and cinnamon and bring to a boil. Add the rice and mix well. Return the chicken to the pot; reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for about 25 minutes or until all the liquid is absorbed and the chicken is cooked through.

PERSIAN CHICKEN PILAF

Steps:

• Toss chicken with paprika, cinnamon and cardamom.
• In large nonstick skillet, heat 2 Tbsp olive oil over medium heat.
• Add the chicken, cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Remove from skillet, set aside.
• In same skillet, heat remaining 1 Tbsp olive oil over medium heat.
• Add onion; cook 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in rice pilaf mix, contents of Spice Sack, broth, apricots, and orange zest; bring to a boil.
• Cover; reduce heat to low.
• Simmer 15 minutes.
• Stir in reserved chicken and almonds.
• Cover; continue to simmer 5 to 10 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.

PERSIAN CHICKEN KABOBS

Steps:

• Combine onion, lemon juice, oregano, paprika and garlic and puree in a small food processor blender.
• Add olive oil and process until well mixed.
• Combine chicken and marinade in a resealable plastic bag or other container so that chicken is completely covered (I just put it in a bowl and toss it periodically). Let marinade for at least 30 minutes, but longer is ok, too. Remember, because the marinade has oil in it, the oil will rise to the top so you may have to keep stirring it if you want to let it sit longer.
• Thread chicken pieces onto skewers and grill on direct medium heat for approximately 8 minutes per side, depending on preference and grill heat. I usually have my grill up to high, so the chicken only takes about 12 minutes total.

SALADE OLIVIER - PERSIAN POTATO CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• In a small pot, simmer 2 cups of water with the chicken breast, onion, carrots, turmeric, and some salt for 45 minutes. Allow to cool, and discard the onion.
• Shred the chicken breast into small pieces with your hands.
• Cut the carrots into small cubes.
• In another pot, boil the potatoes and eggs.
• Remove the eggs after 12 minutes.
• Remove the potatoes when tender.
• Crack the eggs, peel them, and cut into small pieces.
• Peel the potatoes when they have cooled. Cut the potatoes into small pieces.
• In a small pot, cook the frozen peas according to package instructions.
• Cut the pickles into small cubes.
• In a large bowl, combine the potatoes, chicken, carrots, pickles, peas, and eggs.
• In a separate bowl, prepare the dressing by whisking the mayonnaise and vinegar. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Add the dressing to the potato salad, and mix well.
• Refrigerate for 2 hours before serving.
• Serve chilled.

PERSIAN STYLE CHICKEN AND RICE

Steps:

• Place the basmati in a rice cooker with 2-3 cups of water (according to your rice cooker's instructions) along with pinch of salt and the saffron.
• Turn the rice cooker on and while that is cooking, prepare the rest.
• Strip the bbq chicken of it's skin, wings and stuffing (I usually eat this as I cook the meal ha ha).
• Chop up the roast chicken meat roughly and set aside.
• Dry roast the almonds in a large frypan until they're a light golden brown, then set aside.
• Fry the berries in appx 1/2 tbpsn of the butter for about five minutes, then set aside.
• Put another 1/2 tbspn of the butter in the pan and fry the chopped spring onions gently til they go soft.
• Add the cooked rice and the rest of the butter, stir fry for about five minutes.
• Add the chicken, almonds, berries and sumac and stir through.
• Add the fresh coriander, cook for another minute, then serve.

PERSIAN CHICKEN STUFFED WITH RICE

Steps:

• Clean and wash hens. Remove fatty portions and fat from cavity. Marinate 6 hours-overnight with a cup or so of apple juice and salt, cinnamon, cumin, onion and a little paprika (all to taste).
• Brown the onions and garlic in 1 tbs oil. Add the uncooked rice, cumin, cardamom, cinnamon, rosewater, 1 tsp salt, and pepper. Cook over medium heat 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add chicken broth, cover and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes.
• Add the barberries, almonds, raisins, and lime juice to the rice. Mix gently, and cook for several more minutes. Remove from heat. Adjust seasonings to taste.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Stuff the hens with the rice mixture, and tie the cavities shut. Rub each with 1 tsp salt, additional cinnamon, cumin, paprika and 1 tsp sugar.
• Place hens in a greased baking dish. Mix saffron (dissolved in hot water- optional) and about 1/4 cup apple juice, and pour over the chicken. Cover pan with foil.
• Place in the oven and roast for approximately 45 minutes, or until fully cooked and no longer pink. Baste occasionally.
• Garnish with lime slices and enjoy!

JUJEH KABOB (PERSIAN CHICKEN KABOB)

Steps:

• 1. In a large bowl, combine half the saffron water and the lime juice, olive oil, onions, garlic, orange zest, yogurt, salt, and pepper. Beat well with a fork. Add the pieces of chicken and toss well with marinade. Cover and marinate for at least 8 hours and up to 2 days in the refrigerator. Turn the chicken twice during this period.
• 2. Start a bed of charcoal 30 minutes before you want to cook and let it burn until the coals glow evenly. (You can use a hair dryer to speed up the process.) Otherwise, preheat the oven broiler.
• 3. Skewer the tomatoes, breast meat, onto different skewers (they require different cooking times).
• 4. For the baste: Add the juice of 1 lime and the remaining saffron water to the melted butter. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Mix well and set aside. Paint the tomato and chicken with the basting mixture. Grill the chicken and tomatoes 8 to 15 minutes, until done. Turn frequently and baste occasionally. The chicken is done when the juice that runs out is yellow rather than pink.
• 5. To serve: Spread a whole lavash bread on a serving platter. Paint the chicken with the baste mixture. Remove the grilled chicken from skewers and arrange the pieces on the bread. Garnish with lime juice and sprigs of parsley. Cover the platter with more bread.
• 6. Note: You may broil the chicken pieces in a broiler pan for 10 minutes on each side. During the cooking the door of the broiler should be shut. In this way the broiled chicken will be tender. There is no need to spear chicken pieces onto skewers.

PERSIAN SLOW-COOKED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Slash each piece of chicken 2 or 3 times with a sharp knife.
• Mix the flour, turmeric and paprika in a small plastic bag.
• Shake the chicken pieces in it to coat them thinly.
• Heat the oil in a frying pan, add the chicken and cook until browned on all sides.
• Transfer to a plate.
• Add the onion and garlic to the frying pan and fry, stirring for 5 minutes until lightly browned.
• Stir in the remaining spiced flour and stir into the onion and garlic mixture.
• Add the cloves, ginger and some pepper.
• Pour in and gradually incorporate the stock.
• Bring to the boil stirring.
• Pack the chicken joints into the slow cooker and pour in the hot stock mixture. Cover with the lid.
• Cook on high for 2 hours, then on medium for another 4 hours (or on medium for longer).

GRILLED PERSIAN CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Juice lemon; combine juice with oil, cinnamon, salt, pepper and turmeric in large heavy-duty resealable plastic food storage bag.
• Gently kneed ingredients in bag to mix thoroughly; add chicken.
• Seal bag and turn to coat thoroughly.
• Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.
• Remove chicken from marinade and gently shake to remove excess.
• Discard remaining marinade.
• Grill chicken 5 to 7 minutes per side or until chicken is no longer pink in center.

PERSIAN CHICKEN - TAH CHEEN

Steps:

• Wash rice and soak it in warm water (with added salt) for 2 hours, then filter out the water.
• Chop onions thinly and fry in oil until slightly golden.
• Wash and cut chicken, remove skin, and fry in onions until color changes.
• Add some water and bring to boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer slowly until cooked, adding more water if needed, then remove the bones.
• While chicken is cooking, beat the yogurt until it is smooth.
• Dissolve saffron in half a cup of hot water.
• Add saffron, salt, pepper and egg yolks to the yogurt and mix very well.
• Pour a few glasses of water in a large pot and bring to boil.
• Pour in rice and cook while stirring occasionally until rice grows longer and slightly softens (Take care not to overcook the rice, it should still be too hard for eating); again filter out the water.
• Pour several spoons of oil and several spoons of the yogurt mix into a non-stick pot.
• Add a thin layer of rice and flatten using the back of a spoon; add a layer of chicken on top followed by another layer of rice, then flatten the rice.
• Spread several more spoons of the yogurt mix on the rice.
• Continue in this fashion until chicken, rice and the yogurt mix have been used up, then add some more oil on top.
• Put the lid on and cook for about 5 minutes over medium heat.
• Place the pot in an oven (preheated to 250 F) and cook for 1.
• 5 to 2 hours (Note that the longer Tah Chin is cooked, the thicker the Tah Dig- delicious crispy layer of rice at the bottom- will be).
• When cooked, remove the lid and let cool for a few minutes.
• Place an inverted large dish over the pot and turn it over.
• Tap the pot in order to loosen the contents inside (The contents should fall on the dish in one piece with the Tah Dig on the outside).

PERSIAN CHICKEN SKEWERS

Steps:

• Soak 8 skewers in water to prevent burning. To make the marinade, whisk together the cardamom, turmeric, allspice, garlic, lemon and oil. Season with salt and pepper.
• Cut each chicken thigh fillet into 1-1 1/2 inch cubes. Toss the cubes in the spice marinade. Thread the chicken onto skewers and place on a tray. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
• Cook the skewers on a hot, lightly oiled grill or grill pan for 4 minutes on each side or until the chicken is cooked through. Serve with lemon wedges and plain yoghurt.

PERSIAN POLO CHICKEN

Steps:

• Fry the onion in 3 tbsp of margarine or oil until golden, add the chicken pieces and brown on all sides.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper, add raisins and apricots, and continue to cook for a minute or two longer, turning the fruit in the fat.
• Sprinkle with cinnamon, cover with water and simmer gently, covered, until the chicken is very tender and the sauce reduced.
• Bone the chicken if you like.
• Wash and cook the rice, but do not steam it.
• It should be just partially cooked.
• Put 2 tbsp melted margarine or oil at the bottom of a large heavy saucepan.
• Spread half of the partly cooked rice over this, cover with the chicken pieces, pour the rich fruity sauce over them and cover with the remaining rice.
• Cover the pan with a cloth, put the lid on tightly, and steam over a very low heat for 20 to 30 minutes.
• The cloth will capture the steam rising from the rice and help to make it fluffy.
• Serve all mixed together.

SALAD-E OLIVEH -PERSIAN POTATO, EGG, CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• 1. This recipe will serve up to 4 people. Most of the work is in the preparation of the ingredients. It's always best to prepare all your ingredients. There's a lot of vegetables to peel and chop, cook and mash.
• 2. If you have to cook the chicken specifically for this dish you can either fry it or poach it. I usually poach it in seasoned water with a teaspoon of lime juice.
• 3. Once you have finished all the preparation and the cooked ingredients have cooled down, add all of them together in a large mixing bowl. Pour on the mayonnaise, add the lime juice, salt and pepper and gently mix. The ingredients should adhere to each other with the mayo and now your Salad Olivieh is ready to serve.
• 4. It should be served cold. Present the Salad Olivieh in a dish of your choice and decorate with strips of carrot, or gherkins and olives. You can decorate it in which ever way you choose.
• 5. Traditionally, Salad Oliveh is mounded on a platter and covered with additional mayonnaise mixed with a little lime juice spread over like frosting then decorated as you like.
• 6. The key to this salad is having all vegetables finely diced except potatoes which are roughly mashed. Sliced green olives make a wonderful addition along with a drizzle of olive oil over top. A meal in itself.

SERRESH POLLO (PERSIAN CHICKEN AND RICE WITH FRIED ONIONS, RAISI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• On low heat, melt 2 ounces of the butter, add salt and pepper to taste and baste chicken thighs with molten butter.
• Bake thighs at 400 degrees F for about 45 minutes.
• While thighs are baking, prepare basmati rice.
• Some minutes before the thighs are done, slice onions and fry in remaining butter (I know, it's a LOT of butter, but that's correct).
• As soon as onions are translucent, salt to taste, then add raisins, heat through (don't let the mixture burn!), then add barberries, turn off heat and let stand until barberries are warmed, too.
• Place chicken thighs and rice on plates, top rice with onion-raisin-barberry mixture.
• Serve with green salad.
• Enjoy!