Instant Pot Khoresh Gheymeh (Persian Split Pea Stew)

This recipe and video for Instant Pot Khoresh Gheymeh features the classic tomato based Persian split pea stew with its quintessential tart flavor from dried limes (limoo omami) and the fried potatoes garnished on top.

Persian cuisine is filled with many aromatic and incredibly delicious dishes. If you ever dine at a Persian restaurant and order the tahdig (Persian rice crust) topped with stews, you will be served the trifecta of stews, the three quintessential Persian stews: Khoresht Gormeh Sabzi (Persian herb stew), Fesenjoon (Persian pomegranate stew) and Khoresh Gheymeh (Persian split pea stew).

Traditionally, Khoresh Gheymeh is made over the stove, taking several hours for the stew meat to cook. But as I found house easy it is to cook gormeh sabzi in the instant pot, as well as Ash Reshteh in the instant pot, I knew this Persian split pea stew would cook beautifully, as well.

Laura’s tips

Why this recipe works

• Simple: Persian stews are not considered to be overly expensive or fancy dishes. You can use a variety of cuts of beef for the meat, or omit altogether to make it vegetarian.
• Family friendly: Most Persian stews are served regularly at the family table, like how many Americans make spaghetti or meatloaf. As with other stews, it is served over a white basmati rice.
• Instant Pot: Because this Persian split pea stew does not have any other vegetables in the recipe, it makes a great candidate to be created in the Instant Pot! Dinner gets to the table in a fraction of the time without compromising on flavor.
• Flavor: The tomato based stew is more on the sour side because of the dried limes, and spiced with turmeric and a touch of cinnamon. Most Persian stews feature a vegetable, but this stew does not. Instead the stew includes yellow split peas and is topped with fried potatoes.

Ingredients you need

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• Beef stew meat: You can use chunks of chuck roast, London broil, eye of round or butcher cut stew meat.
• Dried limes: Dried Persian limes offer tremendous flavor to this dish. Although you can use lemon juice instead, this stew is known for its use of limoo omani. Learn more about this ingredient further below.
• Dried yellow split peas: Another feature of this recipe is the use of yellow split peas. There really is no substitute for it so look for it online or at middle eastern markets. Learn more about yellow split peas below.
• Shoestring potatoes: Traditionally, the stew is topped with homemade fried potatoes. They can be cubed or cut like french fries. But because we are using the instant pot, I wanted to keep this dish as simple as possible without skimping on flavor or tradition. So I topped this instant pot khoresh gheymeh with premade shoestring potatoes. They can be found in the snack aisle with the canned potato chips, or you can buy them here on Amazon.
• Onion: You can use brown or white onions.
• Seasonings: Salt, pepper, turmeric and cinnamon
• Pantry staples: All purpose flour, extra virgin olive oil, beef broth, tomato paste and canned diced tomatoes

About Limoo Omani (dried Persian limes)

If you are new to middle eastern cooking, then an introduction to dried limes is a must. These little brownish-black balls might not look appetizing, but their flavor packs a powerful punch. Limoo Omani is a very common ingredient in Persian stews. Persians love the many profiles of sour, using sour grapes, sour plums and even lemon juice.

But these dried limes offer more depth of flavor, besides the puckering taste of lime juice. The entire dried lime is cooked in stews, where it softens and steeps it’s flavor into the dish.

You can chop the dried limes first before adding them to the stew, or you can pierce the limes all over and keep them whole. As they cook and soften, you need to press them flat, to let the stew’s juices swim through lime.

Limoo Omani is also available crushed in powder form. The entire dried lime, seeds and all are pulverized. It is just another way to get the dried lime flavor when you just want a pinch. If you cannot find limoo omani whole or grounded, you can substitute with lemon juice. The flavor won’t be exactly the same, but it is a fair substitute in this dish.

About yellow split peas

Most people here in the west know split peas to be green. But in Iran and the middle east, they commonly use the yellow split peas.  Known in farsi as lapeh dir paz, it translates to ‘long cooking split peas.’ And as the Persian name suggests, it takes some time for the yellow split peas to cook.

Unlike the green variety, these yellow split peas hold their shape when cooked. If they turn to mush, you cooked it for too long. They are high in protein and fiber, while low in carbohydrates, making them a great protein source for vegans and those following a low carb diet.

Step-by-step directions

1. Season the meat. Mix together meat, salt, pepper, turmeric and flour until meat is coated evenly. I always add a little flour to help soak up the excess moisture and thicken the sauce. This is optional
2. Sauté onions. Press the “Sauté” function key on your 6 or 8-quart Instant Pot. Select “More” temperature with the “Adjust” key. When Instant Pot displays “Hot” add olive oil and onions. Sauté until onions start to brown.
3. Brown the meat. Season onions with salt and turmeric. Stir in reserved stew meat and brown meat all over.
4. Add broth. When meat is browned, add beef broth. Using a wooden spoon, scrape bottom of pot to remove browned bits.

5. Add tomato paste. Stir in tomato paste until combined then stir in diced tomatoes.
6. Add dried limes. Carefully pierce dried limes with a sharp knife several times. If you like your stew more on the sour lemony side, add up to 5 dried limes. If you don’t know how you like it, start with three. You can add lemon juice later to adjust the flavor to your preference.
7. Cover and cook. Place the lid on your instant pot, turn the vent to seal and set on meat/stew for 20 minutes. Once the timer goes off and the stew is cooked, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes and then release the remaining pressure manually. You can also let all the pressure release naturally if you have time.
8. Add cinnamon. Using a spoon, press limes flat to remove air and let the dried limes sink into the stew. Stir in cinnamon.
9. Add split peas. Rinse split peas and drain. Add split peas to the stew. Close lid of instant pot and seal. Set instant pot to manual (or pressure cook on newer models) set to high pressure for 15 minutes. Very carefully release the pressure manually. If stew is thick, stir in 1 cup of water.
10. Serve. Transfer stew to serving dish and top with shoestring potatoes. You can also peel and chop 1 large russet potato. Once fried crisp, you can use these potatoes to top your stew. Serve stew with steamy Persian rice.

Recipe tips and FAQs

The tomato base for khoresh gheymeh is the same base used for eggplant stew, khoresh bademjoon. Many people, including myself, prepare khoresh bademjoon with yellow split peas, as well.

Feel free to fry up the eggplant and place it on top of the stew, instead of the potatoes. I’m a huge eggplant lover and love how the flavors mingle together in this stew.

Of course, like other Persian stews, this yellow split pea stew is not served alone. It is served on a bed of fluffy basmati rice. I have yet to prepare basmati rice in the instant pot, but I know it is possible. So if you have an extra pot insert, feel free to prepare it that way!

Instant Pot Khoresh Gheymeh (Persian Split Pea Stew)

Laura Bashar | Family Spice

Ingredients for Khoresh Gheymeh (Persian Split Pea Stew) made in the Instant Pot and garnished with shoestring potatoes by FamilySpice.com

4.74 from 26 votes

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

Additional Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 25 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Persian

Servings 8

Calories 351 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 2 lb beef stew meat
• 1 ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 2 teaspoon all purpose flour
• 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 onion
• 3 cups beef broth
• 2 tablespoon tomato paste
• 7 oz dried yellow split peas
• 3-4 dried limes pierced with knife
• 14 oz canned diced tomatoes
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1-2 cups shoestring potatoes

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Instructions

 

• Peel and finely chop onion.
• In a large bowl mix together meat, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, ½ teaspoon turmeric and flour until meat is coated evenly. Set aside.
• Press the “Sauté” function key on your 6 or 8-quart Instant Pot. Select "More" temperature with the “Adjust” key. When Instant Pot displays “Hot” add olive oil.
• When oil is hot, add chopped onions and sauté until onions start to brown.
• Season onions with ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon turmeric and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
• Stir in reserved stew meat and brown meat all over.
• When meat is browned, add beef broth. Using a wooden spoon, scrape bottom of pot to remove browned bits.
• Stir in tomato paste until combined. Stir in diced tomatoes.
• Carefully pierce dried limes with a sharp knife several times. If you like your stew more on the sour lemony side, add up to 5 dried limes. If you don't know how you like it, start with three. You can add lemon juice later to adjust the flavor to your preference.
• Place the lid on your instant pot, turn the vent to seal and set on meat/stew for 20 minutes.
• Once the timer goes off and the stew is cooked, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes and then release the remaining pressure manually. You can also let all the pressure release naturally if you have time.
• Using a spoon, press limes flat to remove air and let the dried limes sink into the stew.
• Stir in cinnamon. Rinse split peas and drain. Add split peas to the stew.
• Close lid of instant pot and seal. Set instant pot to manual (or pressure cook on newer models) set to high pressure for 15 minutes. Very carefully release the pressure manually. If stew is thick, stir in 1 cup of water.
• Transfer stew to serving dish and top with shoestring potatoes.
• You can also peel and chop 1 large russet potato. Once fried crisp, you can use these potatoes to top your stew.
• Serve stew with steamy basmati rice.

Notes

For gluten free option, use rice flour instead of regular flour or omit altogether.

You can also fry up or sauté chopped potatoes and use them instead of the prepackaged shoestring potatoes.

If you can’t find dried Persian limes in whole or powdered form, you can use lemon juice instead.

TO STORE: Store any leftover stew in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.

TO FREEZE: You can also freeze leftovers. Transfer to a resealable bag or freezer safe container and freeze for up to 4 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 351kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 42gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 112mgSodium: 912mgFiber: 5gSugar: 4g

Keyword instant pot khoresh gheymeh, khoresh gheymeh, khoresht gheymeh, persian potato stew, persian split pea stew, persian yellow split pea stew

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