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    Home » Recipes » Persian

    Khoresh Bademjan - Persian Eggplant Stew

    Published: Oct 20, 2020 Modified: Oct 20, 2020 by Candice

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    White pot of chicken stew with green sour grapes with title text.
    Top view of cooked eggplant stew with chicken in red sauce.
    Top view of cooked eggplant stew with chicken in red sauce with overlay title text.

    A Persian stew made with chicken, Japanese eggplant, and sour grapes. This Khoresh Bademjan is one of my mom's staples that I grew up with, and I'm excited to share it with you. "Khoresh" translates to "Stew" and "Bademjan" translates to "Eggplant."

    Top view of cooked eggplant stew with chicken in red sauce.

    If you're interested in learning some more Farsi, check out this post with all the cooking terms I use, transliterated.

    TABLE OF CONTENTS hide
    1 Why You Should Make this Recipe
    2 Ingredients & Substitutions
    3 Step-by-Step Eggplant Stew
    4 Chicken Stew FAQs
    5 More Delicious, Warming Stews
    6 Khoresh Bademjan

    Why You Should Make this Recipe

    This is eggplant hearty stew infused with incredible flavor from turmeric and saffron. You should make this stew if you’re looking to experiment with some amazing, yet less common ingredients like Japanese eggplant, and sour grapes.

    The main sauce of the stew combines tomato sauce with a hint of sour taste from the sour grapes. The seasoned chicken and eggplant work well with the tomato sauce base, combining to make delicious savory stew!

    This dish is a must-try if you’re a fan of Persian cuisine.

    Ingredients & Substitutions

    Top view of labeled ingredients on a white countertop including eggplant, chicken, and sour grapes.

    Japanese eggplant - small or Japanese eggplant work well in this recipe. The Japanese eggplant work best because they are along and skinny, making them cook all the way through much faster. I also like the seed to flesh ratio the best.

    saffron - can be found in middle eastern markets and online. Shop saffron.

    Sour Grapes

    Sour grapes, also known as gooreh, are only in season once a year. I like to buy them in bulk, stem them, and freeze them so I can use them all year round.

    If you cannot find sour grapes, you can substitute dried limes in bademjan. This substitution is commonly done, and you will be able to find dried limes all year round.

    Step-by-Step Eggplant Stew

    Fry the eggplants in canola oil until very tender. Set aside on paper towels.

    Saute the onion in the canola oil over medium-high heat until translucent. Add the chicken, turmeric, salt, and pepper and saute until brown on all sides.

    Before and after chicken is cooked with diced onion and spices.

    Add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, and sour grapes (or dried limes). Bring to boil. Lower to simmer. Simmer for 90 minutes.

    White pot of chicken stew with green sour grapes.

    Before serving, add the eggplants and simmer for an additional 15 minutes. Then, add the saffron and water brew and mix.

    Hand pouring steeped saffron into pot of red stew.

    Serve khoresh bademjan with basmati rice.

    Chicken Stew FAQs

    Can you put raw chicken in a stew?

    Yes, you can add raw chicken pieces to stew towards the end of the cooking process and cook until the chicken is cooked through.

    What goes with this dish?

    You can serve any vegetable sides, grains, potatoes, or salads with chicken stew. Khoresh Bademjan, in particular, goes great with basmati rice.

    Why do I need to brown chicken before slow cooking?

    Browning the chicken before adding the stew liquid seals in the juices in the meat, and helps create the fall-off-the-bone tenderness.

    More Delicious, Warming Stews

    If you like this Persian recipe, be sure to check out all my Persian recipes here. And I'm sure you'll love one of these other dishes, too:

    • Fesenjoon - Persian Pomegranate & Walnut Chicken Stew
    • Kashke Bademjan - Persian Eggplant Dip
    • Khoresh Gheymeh - Meat and Split Pea Stew
    • Gondi (Persian Chickpea Dumpling Stew with Chicken)

    ★ Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below!★

    I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on INSTAGRAM, TIKTOK, and PINTEREST to see more delicious food and what I’m up to.

    Top view of cooked eggplant stew with chicken in red sauce.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Khoresh Bademjan

    A Persian summer stew made with Japanese eggplant and sour grapes. This Khoresh Bademjan is one of my mom's staples that I grew up with, and I'm excited to share it with you. "Khoresh" translates to "Stew" and "Bademjan" translates to "Eggplant."
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time2 hrs
    Total Time2 hrs 15 mins
    Course: Main, Main Course
    Cuisine: Persian
    Diet: Gluten Free, Kosher
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 785kcal
    Author: Candice

    Ingredients

    • 4 lbs. chicken if using a whole chicken, cut into 8 pieces
    • 5 Japanese eggplants sliced in half lengthwise
    • 1 onion diced
    • 16 oz. tomato sauce can
    • 3 oz. tomato paste
    • ½ cup sour grapes*
    • 2 tablespoon canola oil
    • ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
    • 1 pinch saffron brewed in 3 tablespoon hot water
    • Salt and pepper

    Instructions

    • Fry the eggplants in canola oil until very tender. Set aside on paper towels.
    • Sautee the onion in the canola oil over medium-high heat until translucent. Add the chicken, turmeric, salt, and pepper and sautee until brown on all sides.
    • Add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, and sour grapes (or dried limes). Bring to boil. Lower to simmer. Simmer for 90 minutes.
    • Before serving, add the eggplants and simmer for an additional 15 minutes. Then, add the saffron and water brew and mix.
    • Serve with basmati rice.

    Video

    Notes

    * You can substitute 3 dried limes for the sour grapes since sour grapes are only in season once a year. You can find both at middle-easter markets.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 785kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 60g | Fat: 51g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 227mg | Sodium: 725mg | Potassium: 1448mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 1010IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 69mg | Iron: 4mg
    Did you try this recipe?Don't forget to leave a rating and/or comment! And tag @ProportionalPlate on TikTok or Instagram... I'd love to see what you're making.
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    1. Laurie Riddles

      February 14, 2022 at 7:52 pm

      I love Persian food and am so excited to find the recipes I loved so much. Do you have a recipe for my favorite - Kask a bademjoon?

      Reply
      • Candice

        February 15, 2022 at 7:56 am

        Thank you for the recipe request, Laurie! I'm so glad you're liking my recipes.
        I do have a recipe, but it isn't on the blog yet. I learn the recipes without measurements because that's how my mom and grandmother cook, and it takes me time to get them to a place that's blog-worthy. But here is the gist...
        Fry 1 sliced onion (the way I do it in the ash reshteh recipe). Sometimes I'll fry up about a tablespoon of dried mint for this dish, too. Set them aside.
        Peel 6 small Chinese eggplants, cut them into 1-cm thick pieces and sear them in oil seasoning with salt, pepper, turmeric (optional). Once they are golden brown (don't have to be cooked through) let them sit on some paper towels.
        Add about a tablespoon of tomato paste and some water. Cook for a few minutes. Transfer to a bowl. Mix in kashk and top with the onions/mint.
        Hope this helps! I'll try and get a good recipe for this dish up before Spring.

        Reply
      • Candice

        September 03, 2022 at 8:04 pm

        Hi Laurie... the kashke bademjan recipe is offically posted here. Enjoy!

        Reply

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    Meet Candice

    On this blog, I get to share the food that I love, and get to enjoy in my own home. My Persian Jewish heritage influences most of my recipes, and my travels inspire them. And I'm sure you'll notice my love for everything matcha. Welcome, and enjoy!

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    Meet Candice

    On this blog, I get to share the food that I love, and get to enjoy in my own home. My Persian Jewish heritage influences most of my recipes, and my travels inspire them. And I'm sure you'll notice my love for everything matcha. Welcome, and enjoy!

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