Walnut-Crusted Chicken with Pomegranate Sauce is an updated, elegant "deconstructed" twist on the classic Middle-Eastern dish known as Fesenjan that everyone will enjoy!
If you told your family you were having Fesenjan for dinner, chances are they wouldn't have a clue what you were talking about.
Fesenjan is a traditional Iranian stew typically made with pomegranate molasses (or paste), ground walnuts and poultry such as duck or chicken. It's a dish I make frequently for one of my well-traveled clients.
For this interpretation, boneless skinless chicken breasts get a coating of finely chopped walnuts for a delicious crunchy exterior! Rather than braising chicken or duck in pomegranate molasses (which can be difficult to find), this version has an easy-to-make sauce prepared on the stovetop that uses pomegranate juice, port wine, a little chicken broth, butter for depth and a touch of honey for sweetness.
How to make Walnut-Crusted Chicken with Pomegranate Sauce:
- The sauce is super simple, made in a saucepan and you'll want to get it going before you bake the chicken. Simply combine finely chopped shallot, pomegranate juice, ruby or tawny port wine and chicken broth in a small saucepan. Bring it to a boil and let it simmer away until it's reduced by ⅓ to ½.
- Combine a little corn starch with a little chicken broth, add it to the sauce and simmer until it thickens.
- Then whisk in some butter, honey and salt and black pepper.
- For the chicken, start with about 2 cups walnut "pieces." You could also use walnut halves, but you'll probably need more than 2 cups to end up with the required amount of finely chopped walnuts.
- Process until finely chopped in a food processor, preferably a mini food processor. You should end up with just over 1 ¾ cups finely chopped walnuts.
- Combine the finely chopped walnuts with dried thyme, salt and black pepper and some fresh parsley.
- Coat the chicken with Dijon mustard then dredge in the walnut mixture and place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Give it a shot of cooking spray to moisten the nuts and prevent them from burning.
- Place in the oven on a rack in the middle of the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer registers 165 degrees in the center.
- Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve with the sauce!
That's it! So easy and so elegant! Perfect for a family dinner or dinner party!
All you need is a green veggie on the side!
For more lovely chicken recipes, try my:
Walnut-Crusted Chicken with Pomegranate Sauce
Ingredients
Pomegranate Sauce
- 1 large shallot - finely chopped
- ¼ cup port wine - tawny or ruby
- 1 ½ cups pomegranate juice
- ½ cup chicken broth - divided
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter - cut into small pieces
- 1 teaspoon corn starch
- 1 tablespoon honey - or to taste
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper - to taste
Chicken
- 1 ¾ cups finely chopped walnuts - start with 2 cups walnut "pieces"
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley - plus more for garnish
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper - to taste
- ¼ cup Dijon mustard
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
- Cooking spray
- Parsley sprigs - for garnish
Instructions
Pomegranate Sauce
- Combine shallot and port wine in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and reduce to approximately 2 tablespoons.
- Add all the pomegranate juice and chicken broth LESS 1 TABLESPOON. Bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 20-30 minutes or until reduced by ⅓ to ½.
- Combine corn starch with the remaining 1 tablespoon chicken broth in a small bowl. Add to sauce.
- Simmer until it starts to thicken.
- Add butter, honey and salt and black pepper, to taste. Keep warm.
Chicken
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Combine walnuts, thyme, 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley and salt and pepper to taste in a bowl.
- Coat the chicken with the mustard. Dredge in the nut mixture and place on the prepared baking sheet. Spray with cooking spray.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer registers 165 degrees in the center.
Notes
- SAUCE: Sauce may be prepared 1-2 days ahead. Gently reheat in the microwave or stovetop.
- CHICKEN: Coat with walnuts 1 day ahead and refrigerate covered until needed.
Nutrition
These are estimated values generated from a nutritional database using unbranded products. Please do your own research with the products you're using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.
Kathy Keniston says
This recipe is so intriguing. I would like to crust my chicken breasts with shelled pistachio nuts instead of walnuts, but I'm wondering if thyme is right herb to use with the pistachionut/pomegranate combination. Any suggestions will be gratefully received.
Thanks!
Carol says
Hi, Kathy, Thanks so much for your question! I think pistachios would be great and you're right about the thyme. I would go with something a little more neutral like chopped fresh parsley. Thanks again and hope you enjoy!!
Bean says
I always have pomegranate molasses in my fridge but rarely pomegranate juice. The juice is very expensive and more difficult to find than the molasses in my area. How would I best modify your pomegranate sauce with pomegranate molasses vs juice?
Carol says
Hi, Bean, Thanks so much for your question. Since pomegranate molasses is basically pomegranate juice that has been reduced to a thick, syrupy consistency, you can just use the molasses and increase the amount of chicken broth. I would suggest doing it to taste so it's not too tart. Thanks again and hope you enjoy!!
Doreen Pearn says
Good evening! I had this lonely pomegranate sitting in a bowl on my counter and thought I'd better use it before it goes rotten. So...I went searching for a good recipe and found this. Thank you. It was really, really delicious!
Carol says
Hi, Doreen, Thanks so very much and you really made my day! Love love love that you put that lonely pomegranate to use! Cooking with what you already have is what I like to focus on here. Thanks again and so glad you enjoyed!!
susan | the wimpy vegetarian says
This is really gorgeous. What a wonderful way to serve dinner for a dinner party. Chicken is just about the only thing all of our friends agree on, so it's what I often serve. Thanks for this terrific new idea!
Carol says
Hi, Susan and thanks so much! It makes a great family dinner or dinner party entree for sure! Thanks again and hope you enjoy!
Tamara Andersen says
I love fesenjan, and agree it can be a bit of work. Your deconstructed version looks and sounds delicious, and I'm looking forward to giving this a whirl!
Carol says
Thanks so much, Tamara! Hope you enjoy!
Lynn says
Everything about this recipe sounds so delicious! Can't wait to try it this holiday season!
Beth says
I absolutely love what you did by deconstructing, if you will, the traditional fesenjan. This is just so smart and so delicious and nutritious! I'm inspired Carol!
Carol says
Thanks, Beth! Yes, "deconstructing" is exactly the right term! Hope you enjoy!
Beth says
Karen says
That chicken! That sauce! Everything is so elegant and gorgeous and sounds so delicious!
Carol says
Thanks so much, Karen! It really is a luxurious sauce that's perfect for fall, winter and holidays! Thanks again!
Dorothy Reinhold says
My family gets really tired of the same old chicken dishes, and this is the perfect solution! This sounds amazing!
Carol says
Thanks, Dorothy! Yes, everyone in your household should love this! Thanks again!
Liz says
It's been ages since I've put a nut crust on my chicken, but now it's going to happen again soon! And having a gorgeous pom sauce to accompany it sounds amazing!!