Motenjan stew is one of the traditional dishes of Gilan, whose name means "slow cooking" or "time-consuming." This stew is made using chicken or duck meat and is quite similar to Fesenjan stew. In the local dialects of the north, the word "Moten" means a dish that requires a lot of patience and care. This characteristic has made this stew a special and traditional dish on the tables of Gilan.
Ingredients for Preparing Motenjan Stew
To prepare this delicious stew, you will need the following ingredients:
- Chicken breast: 600 grams
- Pomegranate paste: 3.5 tablespoons
- Walnut halves: 300 grams
- Dried apricots: 12 pieces
- Raisins: 150 grams
- Tomato paste: 1.5 tablespoons
- Onion: 1 piece
- Golpar (spice): 1 tablespoon
- Salt, black pepper, and turmeric to taste
- Oil as needed
With these ingredients, you can prepare a delicious and nutritious stew that can be served as a main course for lunch or dinner.
Cooking Method for Motenjan Stew
To start, grind the walnut halves into a powder. Then chop the onion and sauté it with some oil, adding turmeric while frying. After that, add the previously chopped chicken breast to the onions and sauté until the chicken changes color. Now, add the ground walnuts to the mixture and sauté again.
Next, add salt, pepper, and pomegranate paste to the stew ingredients and sauté for a bit. Then, add one cup of cold water to the stew and cover the pot to let the ingredients cook thoroughly. After that, add two more cups of water to the mixture and reduce the heat so the stew simmers gently.
In the next step, sauté two tablespoons of tomato paste with some oil and add the raisins and dried apricots to it. Remove the cooked chicken from the pot and then add the tomato paste, raisins, and dried apricots back into the pot. When the stew has fully developed its flavor, return the pieces of chicken to it and keep it on heat for 15 minutes.
Finally, serve the Motenjan stew in a suitable dish and garnish with slivered almonds and pomegranate. If needed, you can adjust the thickness of the stew by adding a bit of warm water.
People from the north usually prepare this stew with duck meat and use sour pomegranate juice for better flavor. By adding 2 cups of pomegranate juice, you can give the stew a delicious sour taste. However, make sure to reduce the amount of water added to the stew if using pomegranate juice.
Motenjan stew, with its unique flavor and easy cooking method, is one of the best options for meals and can bring joyful moments with family.
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