Sheet-Pan Pomegranate Chicken With Walnut Relish

There are hundreds of weeknights in a year. That’s a lot of dinner! This dish is inspired by fesenjan, a sweet-and-sour Persian stew featuring pomegranate and walnuts.

Recipe information

• Total Time40 minutes
• Yield4 servings

Ingredients

1½ lb. skinless, boneless chicken thighs (about 6), patted dry

6 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided

½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or tsp. Morton kosher salt, plus more

Freshly ground pepper

¼ cup balsamic vinegar

¼ cup pomegranate molasses

3 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

2 tsp. ground cumin

1 cup raw walnuts

1 garlic clove, finely grated

½ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

1 large scallion, thinly sliced on a diagonal

¼ cup (packed) mint leaves, large leaves torn

Pomegranate seeds (for serving)

Preparation

1. Step 1
   Place a rack in upper third of oven and preheat to 425°. Place 1½ lb. skinless, boneless chicken thighs (about 6), patted dry, in a large bowl. Drizzle 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil over, season with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, and toss to coat.
2. Step 2
   Whisk ¼ cup balsamic vinegar, ¼ cup pomegranate molasses, 3 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce, and 2 tsp. ground cumin in a small saucepan. Drizzle 3 Tbsp. over chicken; toss to coat. Stir a pinch of salt into remaining sauce in pan; set aside.
3. Step 3
   Arrange chicken on a rimmed baking sheet and roast until lightly browned, 13–16 minutes. Remove from oven.
4. Step 4
   Meanwhile, toast 1 cup raw walnuts in a single layer on another rimmed baking sheet, stirring once, until golden brown, 5–8 minutes. Remove from oven.
5. Step 5
   Set reserved sauce in pan over medium-high heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until thick and syrupy, about 5 minutes.
6. Step 6
   Heat broiler. Brush chicken with sauce, then broil until cooked through and deeply browned and blistered in spots, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and brush with more sauce.
7. Step 7
   Coarsely chop walnuts and transfer to a medium bowl. Add 1 garlic clove, finely grated, ½ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes, ½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt, and remaining 5 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil and mix to combine walnut relish.
8. Step 8
   Transfer chicken to a platter and spoon walnut relish over. Scatter 1 large scallion, thinly sliced on a diagonal, ¼ cup (packed) mint leaves, large leaves torn, and some pomegranate seeds on top.