How to Make Persian Kenger Stew (Thorny Artichoke Stew) with Fragrant Herbs, Whose Aroma Reaches the End of the Street

Monday, April 07, 2025

Saed News: Kenger stew is cooked in different ways across the country. In Tehran, fragrant herbs are added to the stew, giving it a unique taste and flavor.

How to Make Persian Kenger Stew (Thorny Artichoke Stew) with Fragrant Herbs, Whose Aroma Reaches the End of the Street

According to the Saad News cooking service, this delicious and festive stew is a signature dish of Tehran housewives during the spring season. So, don’t miss making this Tehran-style stew.

Ingredients:

  • Cleaned Kenger (Thistle): 700g

  • Meat: 400g

  • Medium onion: 1

  • Parsley: 200g

  • Mint: 50g

  • Tomato paste: 2 tablespoons

  • Dried lime: 3

  • Turmeric, black pepper, salt: as needed

  • Brewed saffron: as needed

  • Oil: as needed

Instructions:

  1. Remove the tough outer leaves of the kenger and peel the end of the stem, which is tender and edible. Then wash it.

  2. Sauté the chopped stewing meat in oil, adding a little turmeric.

  3. Dice the onions and fry them. Once the onions soften, add black pepper and sauté until the aroma of the pepper rises.

  4. Add the chopped kenger to the fried onions and spices, and sauté briefly. Now add the dried limes with small holes punctured in them.

  5. Add the tomato paste to the pot, sauté, and then add warm water to dissolve the paste completely. Add enough water to the pot.

  6. Let the stew simmer for about 2 hours for it to thicken properly.

  7. In the final 30 minutes of cooking, add the chopped fragrant herbs and brewed saffron to the stew.

  8. Towards the end of cooking, adjust the salt and pepper to taste.

Tip:

  • If you prefer a thicker stew, you can sauté some chickpea flour or lentils and add them to the stew.

  • You can also use chicken instead of stewing meat. For this, sauté the chicken with onions and spices, then follow the rest of the steps as usual.

Preparation time: 30 minutes Cooking time: 2 hours Serves: 5 people



Latest news  
A Look at China’s Ingenious Urban Engineering: How an 8-Kilometer Spiral Bridge Solved Shanghai’s Traffic Woes NASA Encounters the Unexpected: Atlas Interstellar Object Challenges the Laws of Physics! When Chinese Robots Replace Humans: From Guide Robots for the Blind to Flawless Driving on the Streets (Video) A Glimpse at the Most Beautiful and Rare Relic of the Achaemenid Era: Darius the Great’s Unmatched Golden Staff, a Shining Gem of Iranian Art and Splendor! Unveiling a Multi-Thousand-Year-Old Ancient Cemetery of Iranian Lovers in a Picturesque Yazd Village – Heart-Shaped Tombs Revealed + Photos Rezaei: America Is Untrustworthy; Decisions Must Be Based on Dignity, Wisdom, and Expediency Mr. President, Are You Spinning in Circles Instead of Solving Problems? Trump and Zelensky Clash Escalates / Trump Goes Back on His Word… Missiles or No Missiles! A 2,000-Year-Old Mummy with All Internal Organs Intact—Truly Incredible! + Photos Amazing Discovery: 2 Precious Historical Gold Figurines with Incredible Antiquity – A 2,000-Year-Old Achaemenid Relic + Photos The Most Beautiful Creature in the World with Its Heart in Its Head – And Look at Its Unique Color! + Photo Hitler’s Massive and Magnificent Treasure Still Buried Underground [+Photos] Saddam Hussein at His Brother’s Wedding 40 Years Ago – What a Ridiculous Outfit! 120-Year-Old Ancient Tree Uprooted by Reza Pahlavi’s Cruel Decree + Photo Araghchi Ahead of the Expiration of Resolution 2231: Iran’s Sovereign Rights Are the Red Line in Negotiations