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Khoresh-e alu
Chicken and prune stew
خورش آلو (khoresh-e alu): Tehran chicken braised with prunes, saffron and fried onion
Khoresh-e alu is a dinner-party stew in Tehran, made for guests in winter when it can sit on the stove and wait; the prunes and a spoonful of vinegar give it the gentle sweet-sour balance Tehranis love. Chicken thighs brown with a big heap of fried onion and saffron, then braise slowly with black prunes until the sauce is dark, glossy and sticky. Serve with chelow or saffron rice and a crisp salad shirazi. People often stir the stew hard once the prunes are in, and they split and cloud the sauce; turn the chicken gently instead. Chef's tip: fry the onion slowly until truly brown, not just golden, because that colour is most of the flavour.
- Total time
- 90 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 8 chicken thighsbone in, skin removed
- 3 onionsthinly sliced
- 4 tbsp sunflower oil
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 ¾ cups water
- 7 oz prunesstones in
- ¼ tsp saffron threadsground and steeped in 3 tbsp hot water
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp vinegar
- 1 ½ tsp salt
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Heat 4 tbsp sunflower oil in a wide heavy pan over a medium heat and fry 3 onions slowly, stirring, until deep brown and sweet.
20 minStep 2: Push the onion aside, add 8 chicken thighs with 1 tsp ground turmeric and ½ tsp black pepper and brown the pieces on both sides.
8 minStep 3: Stir in 1 tbsp tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes.
2 minStep 4: Add 1 ¾ cups water and 1 ½ tsp salt, bring to the boil, then cover and simmer gently for 25 minutes.
25 minStep 5: Add 7 oz prunes, ¼ tsp saffron threads, 1 tbsp sugar and 2 tbsp vinegar. Cover and simmer until the prunes are plump and the chicken reaches 165°F at the thickest part next to the bone, with the meat pulling away easily.
25 minStep 6: Uncover and simmer for a few minutes until the sauce is thick and glossy. Taste for the sweet-sour balance and serve with rice.
5 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 490 kcal
- Protein
- 36 g
- Carbs
- 34 g
- Fat
- 22 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does khoresh-e alu take?
- About 90 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 75 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of onions?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of ground turmeric?
- Leave it out (it mostly adds colour).
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