Pan-Fry

Persian Zucchini Stew With Chicken (Khoresh Kadoo)

by:
June 27, 2018
4.7
11 Ratings
Persian Zucchini Stew With Chicken (Khoresh Kadoo)
Photo by James Ransom
  • Prep time 10 minutes
  • Cook time 50 minutes
  • Serves 4
Author Notes

Khoresh kadoo, or Persian zucchini stew, is a delicious summer stew made with fresh zucchini and tomatoes. This stew is served with white rice and has a savory, and a bit tart, flavor. —Shadi Hasanzadenemati

Test Kitchen Notes

Featured in: My Mother's Persian Zucchini Stew Is Stronger Than Any Travel Ban. —The Editors

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided, plus more as needed
  • 4 zucchinis, cut in half lengthwise
  • 6 chicken thighs, skinless, bone-in
  • 1 yellow onion, diced
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 1/2 cups water
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, plus more as needed
  • 3 tomatoes, cut in half
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
Directions
  1. Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a saute pan. Fry zucchinis on both sides until golden brown. Set aside.
  2. In the same pan, heat some more olive oil. Sprinkle some salt and pepper on both sides of the chicken thighs, sear them in the pan until golden brown on both sides. Set aside.
  3. Heat another 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in the same pan and saute the onion until golden and translucent.
  4. Add in the turmeric and saute for another minute. Add in the tomato paste and water. Stir well until the tomato paste has dissolved into the water. Turn the heat up and bring to boil. Turn the heat to medium and let it start simmering. Add salt and pepper.
  5. Add the chicken thighs back into the pan with the sauce. Cover and cook for 20 to 30 minutes. Check to make sure the sauce isn't too thick.
  6. After about 25 minutes, add in the zucchini and halved tomatoes and cook for another 10 to 15 minutes until the zucchinis are cooked as well.
  7. Add the lemon juice, taste, and season with more salt if needed.
  8. Put some white rice in serving plates, and top with the zucchini and chicken stew.
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See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • HRH
    HRH
  • lplynch
    lplynch
  • Shadi Hasanzadenemati
    Shadi Hasanzadenemati
  • Lucas4Food
    Lucas4Food
Shadi Hasanzadenemati
Shadi HasanzadeNemati is a food writer and recipe developer at Unicorns in the Kitchen. She loves a good tahdig and her favorite spice is saffron.

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21 Reviews

Lucas4Food
Lucas4Food January 23, 2024
there is not a bog enough pot if you double the recipe for a dinner party! Outside of that, great recipe. Easy to make, delicious.
 
Mdbarrows
Mdbarrows January 7, 2024
I LOVE this dish as does everyone who’s tried it. It’s so easy to make and so delicious. I add cremini mushrooms to the dish but otherwise follow the recipe. I also make Samran Nosrat’s recipe for Crispy Persian-ish Rice to accompany this stew and the combination is magic. Thank you for this wonderful recipe.
 
cmd
cmd November 6, 2023
The first time I made this I followed the recipe exactly and it was delicious. The next time I subbed chick peas for chicken and chicken broth for water and also added 3 cloves of crushed garlic. I only added back the zucchini for 3 minutes so it didn't get mushy. It was delicious and is now my preferred way to make this wonderful dish.
 
Mika
Mika August 20, 2019
What kind of pot/pan did you use? I wasn't able to fit all the ingredients in at the end - ended up having to leave two fried zucchini and a tomato out :-/
 
HRH
HRH June 20, 2019
Shadi, thank you for sharing this lovely recipe. I added garlic, and had to use whole canned tomatoes, as there isn't a decent tomato available right now. It seemed too simple but somehow was absolutely delicious! Even the picky, tomato hating kids loved it.
 
Shadi H.
Shadi H. June 20, 2019
I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed this zucchini stew! It's one of our favorites as well, with so many memories!
 
lplynch
lplynch September 24, 2018
Has anyone made this without the chicken? Or oldest daughter has decided she's a vegetarian.
Shadi, I am so sorry. I hope your family is allowed to visit soon.
 
Susan A.
Susan A. August 12, 2018
I must confess --- your story had me in tears. I filed it under "Comfort Food" and look forward to making it.
 
Shadi H.
Shadi H. September 24, 2018
Thank you so much Susan, I hope this stew brings comfort to you <3
 
mpm6228
mpm6228 July 26, 2018
Wonderful. I used some white wine subbed for the water, and a bit of red pepper flakes, but otherwise stuck to the recipe, it is delicious, we loved the tartness of the lemon. Used our CSA onions, zucchini and tomatoes for a bright dish tasting of summer vegetables. Thank you!
 
Shadi H.
Shadi H. September 24, 2018
Love the idea of white wine and red pepper flakes! Happy to know you enjoyed this dish.
 
Brad
Brad July 24, 2018
Really wonderful! Thanks. How about a bit of minced garlic just before the turmeric? How about a bit of cayenne for heat? Do you think a vegetarian version with garbanzo beans would work?
 
Frankie
Frankie July 24, 2018
Interesting idea, I am sure it could work. Her recipe is a perfect base and the eggplants & tomatoes really combines well with other ingredients.
 
Shadi H.
Shadi H. September 24, 2018
Hi Brad,
Yes! Garlic makes everything better imo and yes to cayenne as well! I love the idea of garbanzo beans for a vegetarian version.
 
Kathryn L.
Kathryn L. July 21, 2018
Could you make this with boneless chicken thighs? The recipe looks wonderful! It must smell so good while it cooks!
 
Frankie
Frankie July 21, 2018
Yes, you can!! We did that as well and it was skinless as well.
 
Kathryn L.
Kathryn L. July 21, 2018
Thanks! I’ve got to hit up the farmers market to find good zucchini.
 
Shadi H.
Shadi H. September 24, 2018
Hi Kathryn, yes you can use boneless chicken thighs as Frankie mentioned :)
 
Frankie
Frankie July 21, 2018
My youngest son tends to pick out the cooked tomatoes pieces in any dish but with this recipe, he devoured them. It was wonderfully easy to prepare and so very easy to add seasoning as desired. I make triple portions and put the extra into the freezer for my youngest son after his soccer practice.
 
Shadi H.
Shadi H. July 22, 2018
Happy to hear you all loved it! :)
 
dinaofdoom
dinaofdoom July 21, 2018
Is that photo of the same recipe? The zucchini is deeply browned like it was roasted, and the chicken appears to have skin.