Best 20 Pomegranate Chicken Recipes

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.

POMEGRANATE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Stir pomegranate juice, brown sugar, vinegar, and garlic together in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture is reduced to 3/4 cup, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and discard garlic, then stir in lime juice and let cool 5 minutes. Set aside 6 tablespoons pomegranate syrup.
• Poke several holes in lime with a fork and insert into chicken cavity along with onion, 1/2 teaspoon salt, bay leaf, pepper, and rosemary. Tie legs together with kitchen string, sprinkle skin with remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt, then transfer chicken, breast side up, to a roasting pan.
• Roast chicken, basting with pomegranate syrup every 20 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest parts of all pieces registers 165 degrees F, about 1 hour total. Let chicken rest 10 minutes before carving. Serve drizzled with reserved pomegranate syrup.

ROASTED CHICKEN WITH POMEGRANATE MOLASSES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Season chicken with salt and pepper, to taste. In a large stove to oven pan, heat the olive oil and brown the chicken on all sides. Put it in the oven and roast until the juices run clear, about 20 minutes. Remove the pan from oven and transfer the chicken to a cutting board. Tent with foil to keep warm. Put the pan on the stovetop over medium-high heat. Add the chicken stock and scrape up brown bits while bringing it to a boil. Whisk in the pomegranate molasses and thyme leaves and cook until desired thickness is reached, about 5 minutes. Taste for seasoning and adjust if necessary. Quarter the chicken and arrange it on a serving platter. Pour the sauce over the chicken and serve.

POMEGRANATE STEW WITH CHICKEN (KHORESH FESENJAN)

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Place chicken and onions in skillet, and cook 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Mix in pureed walnuts, salt, pomegranate juice, and cardamom. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. (If the sauce becomes too thick, stir in 1/4 cup warm water.) Mix in sugar, adjust seasoning, and simmer 30 minutes more.

POMEGRANATE ROASTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat pomegranate juice in a small saucepan over medium heat until reduced to 1/4 cup. Set aside. Meanwhile, let the chicken come to room temperature for about 30 minutes. Heat oven to 450 degrees.
• Brush chicken with oil and season with salt and pepper. Tie legs and transfer to a large ovenproof skillet.
• Roast chicken, turning once, until golden and cooked through, about 50 minutes. Transfer to a serving dish and brush with reduced pomegranate juice; let stand 10 minutes. Deglaze skillet over medium heat with stock, scraping up brown bits with a wooden spoon. Cook until reduced by half. Strain fat. Add thyme and pomegranate seeds. Serve with chicken.

TURKISH-SPICED CHICKEN KEBABS WITH POMEGRANATE RELISH AND TAHINI YOGURT

Steps:

• For tahini yogurt:
• Combine lemon juice, Baharat Seasoning, and garlic in medium bowl; stir to blend. Let stand 5 minutes. Whisk in yogurt and tahini. Season tahini yogurt to taste with salt. DO AHEAD: Can be made up to 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.
• For pomegranate relish:
• Mix all ingredients in medium bowl. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.
• For chicken:
• Whisk first 4 ingredients in large bowl. Add chicken. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Marinate at room temperature at least 1 hour and up to 2 hours.
• Preheat broiler. Thread 6 chicken pieces onto each skewer. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place on small rimmed baking sheet. Broil chicken until cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes per side. Arrange kebabs on platter. Serve with tahini yogurt, pomegranate relish, and warm pita breads.

POMEGRANATE-GLAZED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees, with rack in top third. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil; set aside.
• Make glaze: In a large skillet, combine juices, rosemary, garlic, and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Boil over high heat until reduced to 1/2 cup, about 15 minutes, stirring and scraping down sides of skillet with a wooden spoon or heatproof spatula. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a liquid-measuring cup; stir in vinegar. Reserve cup glaze for serving.
• Meanwhile, season chicken with salt and pepper. Place, skin side up, on prepared baking sheet; bake 15 minutes, then brush chicken with glaze. Continue baking, brushing with glaze every 5 minutes, until chicken is cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes (an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part, avoiding bone, should register 165 degrees). Let rest 5 minutes; drizzle with reserved glaze. Serve.

EXOTIC POMEGRANATE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Mix the cumin, coriander, herbes de Provence, black pepper, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper together in a small bowl. Place the chicken and garlic in a bowl; sprinkle about 2/3 of the spice mixture over the chicken and toss to coat. Transfer the chicken to a resealable plastic bag. Pour in the pomegranate juice. Seal and refrigerate at least 12 hours. Remove the chicken from the bag, reserving the marinade.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Pat chicken dry with a paper towel. Season with the remaining spice mixture and salt. Coat with olive oil, then arrange the chicken in a large baking dish in one layer.
• Bake the drumsticks until no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, 45 to 50 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
• While the chicken is baking, bring the reserved marinade to a boil in a saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, and continue simmering until reduced by 2/3. Stir often. Pour over chicken before serving.

WALNUT CHICKEN WITH POMEGRANATE SAUCE

Steps:

• Finely chop walnuts with flour in processor. Transfer to plate. Pound chicken between sheets of waxed paper to 1/4-inch thickness. Dip chicken into beaten egg, then into walnut mixture to coat. Melt 1 tablespoon butter with 1 tablespoon oil in large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add chicken and cook until golden and cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to plate; tent with foil to keep warm.
• Boil wine and shallots in heavy small saucepan until most of wine has evaporated, about 2 minutes. Add broth, pomegranate juice, pomegranate molasses and honey. Boil until reduced to 3/4 cup, about 5 minutes. Whisk in remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Season sauce with salt and pepper. Spoon sauce over chicken. Sprinkle with chives and serve.

ROASTED CHICKEN WITH POMEGRANATE SALSA

Steps:

• Cut off a thin slice from the top and bottom of the orange and place cut-side down on a cutting board. Cut off the rind and any white pith. Working over a small bowl, cut between the membranes to remove the orange segments, letting them fall into the bowl; squeeze the juice from the membranes into the bowl.
• Put the chicken in a large bowl and season all over with salt and pepper. Add 2 tablespoons of the orange juice, 1 tablespoon olive oil, the pomegranate molasses, garlic, coriander and red pepper flakes; toss well. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours or overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 400˚ F. Line a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with foil. Place the chicken skin-side up in the dish; scrape the remaining marinade out of the bowl and drizzle around the chicken. Let sit at room temperature while the oven preheats.
• Roast the chicken until the skin is tight and browning in spots, 35 to 40 minutes. Baste the chicken with the pan drippings (add a little water if the pan seems dry) and roast 10 more minutes. Baste again and continue roasting until the chicken is very tender and the skin is browned and glazed, 5 to 10 more minutes.
• Chop the orange segments and return to the bowl. Add the pomegranate seeds, parsley and remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil; season with salt and pepper and toss. Transfer the chicken to a platter. Spoon off the fat from the drippings, then drizzle the chicken with the remaining drippings. Top with the pomegranate salsa.

GEORGIAN CHICKEN IN POMEGRANATE AND TAMARIND SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large Dutch oven or in a pot with a tight-fitting lid, mix the onions, 1 1/2 cups cilantro, the garlic and the spices. Blend in the diluted tamarind paste, the diluted pomegranate paste, the ketchup and the salt.
• Add chicken thighs and legs to pot, and submerge in sauce. Cover, and cook on medium-high heat for 10 minutes, then lower heat, and cook for 1 hour. Uncover, adjust seasonings to taste, and continue cooking for 20 minutes.
• Transfer chicken and sauce to a serving platter, and garnish with remaining cilantro. Sprinkle pomegranate seeds over platter, and serve hot.

TEA-SMOKED CHICKEN THIGHS WITH POMEGRANATE GLAZE

Steps:

• Zest one orange and peel other; set zest and peels aside. Cut oranges in half and squeeze juice through wire mesh strainer into a bowl. Reserve juice.
• Scatter orange peels, tea, star anise and cinnamon around center of bottom of smoker. Cover with drip tray and wire rack. Arrange thighs on rack and season generously with pepper and salt. Place on stove over medium heat and after first wisp of smoke appears, cover tightly with lid. Smoke for 20 to 25 minutes. Shut off heat and rest for 5 minutes with lid on.
• While chicken is smoking, combine zest, hoisin, pomegranate molasses and sriracha in a small bowl. Add about half reserved juice, more if sauce is too thick. Set glaze aside.
• Pour oil in a nonstick or well-seasoned cast-iron pan over medium high heat. When hot, add chicken, and cook about three minutes per side. Reduce heat to medium low, brush both sides of chicken with glaze, and cook for another few minutes until crisp. Serve immediately, with extra sauce on the side.

SPICED CHICKEN WITH SPAGHETTI SQUASH, POMEGRANATE, AND PISTACHIOS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Sprinkle each half of squash with 1/4 tsp. salt, then place facedown on prepared baking sheet along with onion quarters.
• Combine turmeric, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1 tsp. allspice, and 1/8 tsp. cayenne in a large bowl. Add chicken and toss to coat. Arrange chicken skin side up alongside squash and onions on baking sheet. Brush tops of chicken with 1 Tbsp. olive oil. Bake until interior of squash and onions are fork-tender, chicken skin is crispy, and an instant read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken registers 165°F, 35-45 minutes; if chicken is done before squash, remove from oven and let rest until squash is finished cooking.
• Meanwhile, whisk lemon juice, pomegranate molasses, and remaining 3 Tbsp. oil, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. allspice, and 1/8 tsp. cayenne in a large bowl.
• Finely chop onion quarters and transfer to bowl with dressing. Using a fork, scrape squash crosswise to pull strands from shells into bowl with dressing; discard shells. Add pistachios, pomegranate seeds, dill, and mint and toss to coat.
• Divide chicken among plates, top with dill and mint, and serve alongside squash mixture.

POMEGRANATE, CHICKEN AND FARRO SALAD

Steps:

• Place farro in large saucepan; add water to cover. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cook, covered, until tender, 25-30 minutes. Drain and cool. , Arrange farro, avocados, chicken, apricots, green onions, walnuts and, if desired, jalapeno on a platter. Sprinkle with pomegranate seeds. In a small bowl, whisk remaining ingredients until blended. Serve dressing with salad.

BLUSHING POMEGRANATE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Arrange sweet potatoes and chicken pieces in a 9x13 inch baking dish. In a small bowl, mix together pomegranate juice, sherry vinegar, olive oil, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, and salt and pepper. Pour over chicken and sweet potatoes. Cover, and marinate for 1 to 2 hours, turning once.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bake, uncovered, in preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until chicken and sweet potatoes are cooked through. Baste with cooking juices several times while cooking.
• Sprinkle with green onion and pomegranate seeds before serving.

MOROCCAN ROASTED POMEGRANATE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Remove and discard giblets, and neck from chicken, and lift wing tips up over back and tuck under chicken.
• Sprinkle 3/4 teaspoon salt over chicken, and place chicken, breast side up on rack of roasting pan coated with cooking spray.
• Place rack in pan, and bake 450 degrees for 45 minutes or until a thermometer inserted into meaty part of thighs reaches 165 degrees.
• Remove chicken, and rack from pan and let stand 10 minutes.
• Remove skin from dark meat, and discard.
• Remove seeds from pomegrante, set 1 tablespoon seeds aside.
• Place remaining seeds in a blender, pulse to crush.
• Strain mixture through a sieveover a bowl, to yield 1/4 cup juice, discard solids.
• Place roastin pan over medium heat, add wine to drippings in pan, scraping pan to loosen browned bits.
• Pour mixture into medium saucepan, stir in pomegranate juice, sugar, cinnamon, pepper, and garlic, and bring to a boil.
• Cook 16 minutes or until reduced to 1/3 cup.
• Remove from heat, and stir in lemon juice, and remaining salt.
• Serve sdauce with chicken, and sprinkle with remaining seeds.

GRILLED CHICKEN LEGS WITH POMEGRANATE MOLASSES

Steps:

• Preheat grill.
• In a shallow dish, mix chicken with l/2 cup virgin olive oil, honey, vinegar and paprika, and allow to marinate overnight in refrigerator or 3 hours at room temperature.
• Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper and place on grill.
• Grill 12-13 minutes per side, or until juices run clear when pierced with a fork or knife.
• Remove cooked chicken from grill and drizzle with pomegranate molasses.
• Serve immediately.

POMEGRANATE-GLAZED CHICKEN WITH BUTTERY PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Combine garlic, yogurt, 1/3 cup pomegranate molasses, 2 Tbsp. honey, and 2 Tbsp. Diamond Crystal or 3 1/2 tsp. Morton kosher salt in a large resealable plastic bag. Place chicken in bag and seal, pressing out any air; turn to coat. Chill, turning occasionally, at least 12 hours and up to 2 days.
• Let chicken sit at room temperature 1 hour before cooking.
• Place a rack in top position of oven; preheat to 450°F. Stir remaining 2 Tbsp. pomegranate molasses and remaining 2 Tbsp. honey in a small bowl.
• Drizzle enough oil to barely coat the bottom of a large heavy skillet, preferably cast iron, that can hold both chicken halves (or you can roast chicken on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet). Remove chicken from marinade, letting excess drip back into bag, and place in skillet, skin side up. Pat chicken dry with paper towels; season lightly with salt. Brush or spoon pomegranate molasses mixture evenly over skin.
• Roast chicken until skin is lacquered and deep mahogany over most of surface and juices run clear when thigh meat is pierced with a knife, 25-30 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt butter in a small skillet over medium-low heat. Cook pine nuts, tossing often, until golden and mixture smells nutty (don't let the butter burn), about 3 minutes. Scrape buttery pine nuts into a small bowl and season with salt.
• Pour pomegranate juice into a large bowl or shallow platter and squeeze in lime. Season with a large pinch of salt and stir to dissolve. Add chicken to bowl (or divide between 2 shallow bowls) and spoon buttery pine nuts over to serve.

POMEGRANATE-CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• Combine the mayonnaise, yogurt, Dijon mustard, lemon juice and some salt and pepper. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
• Add the shredded chicken, pomegranate seeds, chives and celery to a bowl. Pour some of the dressing around the sides of the bowl and toss to combine. Add more dressing as desired. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
• Serve on top of some baby arugula if using.

CHICKEN SALAD WITH APPLE, POMEGRANATE, AND BEET

Steps:

• In a medium pot, combine chicken and enough water to cover by 1 inch; season with salt. Bring to a simmer over medium-high, then reduce heat to a low simmer and cook chicken until cooked through, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate and let sit until cool enough to handle. Remove skin and bones and thinly slice.
• Meanwhile, whisk together orange zest and juice, and oil; season with salt and pepper. Arrange beets on a large platter. Top with greens, chicken, apples, and pomegranate seeds. Drizzle with orange dressing.