• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Unicorns in the Kitchen

Easy family approved recipes from our Kitchen to yours. Persian, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean recipes made easy with fresh ingredients and step-by-step instructions.

  • Recipe Index
  • Mediterranean Recipes
  • E-cookbooks
  • About
    • Work with Us
    • Contact
  • Recipe Index
  • Mediterranean Recipes
  • E-cookbooks
  • About
    • Work with Us
    • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • Mediterranean Recipes
  • E-cookbooks
  • About
    • Work with Us
    • Contact
  • ×

    Home » Persian Recipes

    Khoresh Gheimeh Recipe (Persian Split Chickpea Stew)

    Published: Oct 1, 2019 · Modified: Apr 29, 2020 by Shadi HasanzadeNemati · This post may contain affiliate links .

    1216 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Khoresh gheimeh is a Persian stew made with lamb and split chickpeas. Learn how to make gheimeh recipe with a step-by-step tutorial and video. 

    We've got rave reviews on our Persian recipes and we have a new one for you! Gheimeh is a delicious stew that's up on the popular Persian recipes with zereshk polo and ghormeh sabzi. Serve it with some salad shirazi for a complete Persian meal.  

    Khoresh gheimeh is a Persian stew made with lamb and split chickpeas. Learn how to make gheimeh recipe with a step-by-step tutorial and video. 

    What is gheimeh?

    Khoresh gheimeh or as it's usually called, gheimeh, is a Persian dish from the stew (khoresh) family that's usually served with rice. It's usually made with split chickpeas, lamb and spices. The word "gheimeh" itself comes from the Turkic word qiyma meaning minced meat. This is one of the most popular Persian dishes that's common in every household. There are over six variations of gheimeh based on different regions of Iran. But two of the most popular gheimeh recipes are:

    • Gheimeh sibzamini: Topped with fried potatoes right before serving.
    • Gheimeh bademjan: Paired with fried eggplants instead of potatoes. 

    twp plates of rice serve with Persian gheimeh stew.

    This recipe includes both variations, plus a vegetarian version if you prefer not to use meat in this recipe. Gheimeh is an easy and family friendly recipe that everyone loves. It's also a common dish that's served during ashoora, a mourning day significant to Shia muslims. 

    Khoresh gheimeh ingredients 

    To make this delicious Persian stew, you need a few ingredients that you can find in almost any supermarket: 

    • Onion 
    • Lamb 
    • Split chickpeas
    • Turmeric, cinnamon, salt and pepper
    • Tomato paste 
    • Dried lime (Amani lime)
    • Eggplants or potatoes (depending on the version you're making) 

    ingredients to make gheimeh recipe is eggplants, potatoes, lamb, salt, chana dal, spices and onion.

    What cut of lamb should I use?

    If your supermarket sells stew lamb, that's the best choice for this recipe. However, boneless leg of lamb works as well if you cut it into small bite size pieces. For this Persian stew recipes, you need boneless pieces of lamb. 

    Can I use beef instead of lamb?

    Traditionally, Persian stews are made with lamb but I've made them with stew beef and it works well. So if you cannot find lamb, or simply are not a fan of it, you can easily use beef instead. 

    Split chickpea 

    Also known as chana dal or lappeh(لپه) in Farsi, this legume is the main ingredients of khoresh gheimeh in Iranian cuisine. It's also used in India, South African and Trinidad. For more information, please check out this article about lappeh and its uses.

    How to make Persian gheimeh recipe 

    Iranian usually use a pot and their gas stove to make gheimeh or any other kind of stew. However, with all the kitchen devices such as slow cooker and instant pot available to everyone now, it could be useful to have instructions for each of them. 

    • Stove top:

      • Heat oil in a pot and saute onion until golden brown. 
      • Add in stew meat and spices, sear until the stew meat pieces are brown on all sides. 
      • Add split chickpeas, tomato paste and water. Bring to simmer and cook until the lamb and split chickpeas are completely cooked.
      • While the stew is cooking, fry potatoes or eggplants. 
      • Pierce amani limes with a fork and add them to the simmering stew. Let them cook for a few minutes until they soften. 
      • If serving gheimeh with fried eggplants, place them in the stew for a few minutes before serving. 
      • If serving with potatoes, simply top the stew with French fries right before serving.

    • Slow cooker:

      • Saute onion in a pan until golden brown. 
      • Add in stew meat and spices. Sear until the meat is brown on all sides. 
      • Transfer the meat and onion to the slow cooker. Add in split chickpeas, tomato paste and water. 
      • Stir well to make sure everything is well combined. 
      • Cook on high for 4 hours or until the meat is completely cooked. 
      • Poke holes into the amani limes with a fork and add them to the stew. Cook on low for 30 minutes. 
      • Serve with fried potatoes or fried eggplant. 
    • Instant pot:

      • Cook split chickpeas in a sauce pan with water and a pinch of salt. This will take about 20 minutes. You don't want the split chickpeas to be mushy, just cooked. So please keep a close eye. 
      • Press "saute" button and heat some oil in the instant pot. 
      • Saute onion until golden, add in the lamb and spices. Sear until brown. 
      • Add in tomato paste and water. Lock the lid and press the "pressure cook" button. 
      • Set the timer for 25 minutes. 
      • Once the time is up, do a quick release and open the lid. Try a piece of lamb to make sure it's cooked. 
      • Add the split chickpeas to the stew. Pierce holes into amani limes and add them to the stew as well. 
      • Press "saute" button again and cook with the lid off for about 10 minutes or until the limes are soft. 
      • Serve with fried eggplants or potatoes. 

    Can I make vegetarian gheimeh?

    Absolutely. If you would like to make vegetarian Persian gheimeh, you can simply leave out the lamb. It's not necessary to add any other ingredients instead of meat but if you're looking for a substitute, white button mushrooms are a good option.

    What to serve gheimeh with 

    All Persian stews are traditionally served with Persian white rice (chelow). However, you can also serve them with saffron rice, instant pot white rice or even instant pot brown rice. I also love having the leftovers with a piece of bread. 

    a plate of rice with split chickpea stew.

    Looking for more Persian recipes? 

    • Kashke bademjan
    • Lubia polo (Persian rice and green beans)
    • Khoresh karafs (Persian celery stew)
    • Tahchin (Persian savory rice cake)\
    • Khoresh fesenjan (Persian pomegranate and walnut stew)

    Notes and tips to make this Persian stew at home

    • Can't find split chickpeas? I don't like making specific rules for a dish, therefore if you really cannot find chana dal or lappeh, simply use canned chickpeas, but add them after the lamb is cooked in the tomato sauce. 
    • What to do with the leftovers: Store the leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. It's best to reheat gheimeh in a sauce pan over medium heat.
    • You can also freeze khoresh gheimeh. After it's completely cool, transfer the stew into a freezer safe dish and freeze for up to 2 months.
    • If you cannot find amani lime (dried Persian lime), use 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice. 

    you can serve this dish with eggplant as well.

    Khoresh Gheimeh Recipe (Persian split chickpea stew)

    Shadi HasanzadeNemati
    Khoresh gheimeh is a Persian stew made with lamb and split chickpeas. Learn how to make gheimeh recipe with a step-by-step tutorial and video. 
    4.60 from 5 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 1 hr
    Total Time 1 hr 15 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Persian
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 526 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 tablespoon vegetable oil
    • 1 large onions finely chopped
    • 1 lb lamb cut into stew meat pieces
    • ½ teaspoon turmeric
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon
    • 2 cups split chickpeas chana dal
    • 3 tablespoon tomato paste
    • 6 cups water
    • 5 dried Persian limes amani lime
    • 6 Chinese eggplants washed and peeled
    • 4 russet potatoes washed and peeled

    Instructions
     

    • Heat oil in a pot over medium heat.
    • Saute onion until golden brown.
    • Add in the lamb, turmeric, salt, pepper and cinnamon. Sear until the lamb is brown on all sides.
    • Add split chickpeas and stir well.
    • Add in tomato paste and water.
    • Bring to boil and simmer over medium low until the lamb is cooked.
    • Pierce holes in the dried limes using a fork and add the to the stew. Let it simmer for another 10 minutes.

    For gheimeh bademajn (With eggplant)

    • Wash and peel the eggplants. Cut them in half widthwise and then in half lengthwise.
    • Sprinkle some salt on them and place them in a colander. Let them sit for 30 minutes.
    • Rinse and dry the eggplants.
    • Heat 4 tablespoons vegetable oil in a pan over medium heat and fry the eggplants for about 4 minutes on each side until cooked.
    • When ready to serve, gently add the eggplants to the stew and let them simmer for 5 minutes. Serve the stew with white rice.

    For gheimeh sibzamini (with potatoes)

    • Wash and peel the potatoes. Cut them into sticks.
    • Heat oil in a pan over medium heat.
    • Fry the potatoes in the oil until they're soft and golden brown.
    • Season with salt.
    • Serve the stew in bowls and top with fried potatoes.

    Video

    Nutrition

    Calories: 526kcalCarbohydrates: 80gProtein: 31gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 49mgSodium: 331mgPotassium: 1442mgFiber: 24gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 174IUVitamin C: 17mgCalcium: 168mgIron: 6mg
    Did you make this recipe? Let us know how it was by leaving a comment and a 5-star review!

     

    « One Pot Curry Lentil Soup (Vegan)
    Easy Nutella Brownies [Video Tutorial] »
    1216 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. hamed safari

      January 01, 2021 at 2:52 pm

      This recipe trully useful
      I love Unicorn in the kitchen

      Reply
    2. Denay DeGuzman

      October 04, 2019 at 3:17 pm

      5 stars
      I made this delicious chickpea stew last night and it was amazing! So flavorful with wonderful colors and textures. This recipe's definitely a keeper!

      Reply
    3. Love Keil

      October 04, 2019 at 1:44 pm

      This recipe looks amazing! Your photos are mouthwatering!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest

    Welcome to Unicorns in the Kitchen, where we share delicious recipes from our kitchen to yours. You’re in for a delicious adventure and collection of unique and tasty recipes.

    Read more...

    Fall Dinner Ideas

    • Tomato Rice Persian Style (Dami Gojeh Farangi)
    • Easy Greek Pastitsio Recipe
    • Roasted Chicken and Vegetables Turkish Style
    • Mujadara - Lebanese Lentils and Rice with Crispy Onions

    Latest Recipes

    • Best Mother's Day Brunch Ideas
    • Ful Medames Recipe (Egyptian Fava Beans)
    • Best Blackened Salmon Recipe
    • 65+ Best Persian Recipes To Try

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Services
    • About US

    All images and content are copyright protected. Please do not use my images or recipes without prior permission. Read about privacy policy and copyright Here. Our site contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting.

    Copyright 2019, All rights reserved.
    Read about privacy policy and copyright Here.

    1216 shares