Northern Iran stew · Sweet and sour
Khoresh Mosamma Recipe (Persian Eggplant Pomegranate Stew)
Salt the eggplant. Pomegranate and plum. Eggplant on top.
Recipe by Farwa ZeeshanTested in the NineFoods home kitchenMosamma is the eggplant stew of Gilan and Azerbaijan, sweeter and darker than khoresh bademjan, with pomegranate molasses and sour plums. It goes greasy when the eggplant soaks up oil, and flat when it is not balanced. The fix is salting and frying the eggplant hot, then simmering in a sauce you taste and balance at the end.
The 3 laws of khoresh mosamma
Why this recipe works
Raw to oil
Less oil, no bitterness.
Fixed sugar
Pomegranate varies in sourness.
Early
Stays whole.
Shopping and prep list
Ingredients
Stew
The NineFoods balance gauge
Is the sauce balanced?
Taste a spoon of sauce.
Method · 3 stages
Step by step
Braise lamb
- Fry onions and turmeric, brown lamb, add tomato paste and water; simmer.
Eggplant
- Salt, dry and fry eggplant until golden.
Finish
- Add pomegranate molasses, plums, sugar and eggplant; simmer.
- Use the gauge above.
Chef's troubleshooter
What went wrong? Pick the symptom
Why
Cool oil.
Fix next time
Fry hot and drain.
Why
Strong molasses.
Fix next time
Balance with sugar.
Why
Added early.
Fix next time
Add for the last 30 minutes.
Why
Eggplant not salted.
Fix next time
Salt and rest 20 minutes.
Swap smart
Ingredient roles and substitutes
| Ingredient | Job in the dish | Swap with |
|---|---|---|
| Lamb | Main | Chicken thighs |
| Pomegranate molasses | Sweet sour | Tamarind and sugar |
| Sour plums | Tang | Dried apricots and lemon |
| Fried eggplant | Body | Roasted eggplant |
After the meal
Serve, store, reheat
Serve with
Chelow rice and tahdig.
Store
Fridge 3 days; freezes 2 months.
Reheat
Low heat, without stirring.
How we tested this recipe
Tested in a home kitchen, not a studio
Recipe developed and tested by Farwa Zeeshan, who cooks and tests every NineFoods recipe on a regular home stove.
- Cooked from start to finish with the exact quantities above for 4 servings, using both the metric and US cup measures.
- Every one of the 3 stages was timed at the stove; heat levels and the 'look for' cues are what we saw in the pan.
- The doneness check (is the sauce balanced) and the troubleshooter come from batches that went wrong, and how we fixed them.
- Reheating and storage advice was checked on leftovers, not guessed.
Keep cooking
Related recipes and guides
Quick answers
Khoresh Mosamma FAQ
What is khoresh mosamma?
A Persian eggplant stew with pomegranate and sour plums.
How is it different from khoresh bademjan?
Mosamma is sweeter and darker with pomegranate; bademjan uses tomato and sour grape.
Where is mosamma from?
Northern Iran, especially Gilan.
Can I use chicken?
Yes, cook thighs for 40 minutes.