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, I decided to prepare this Persian split pea stew in the instant, as well.

Why this recipe is so awesome

Gheimeh literally translates as ‘finely chopped’ and khoresh translates to ‘stew.’ In most Persian stews, the meat used is lamb shank or beef. The chunks of meat can be large or small. But for khoresh gheymeh, the stew meat is cut smaller, about 1-inch cubes or less. Some options for the meat is to cut up London broil, chuck roast, or eye of round. 

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.

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. And after creating Ash Reshteh in the instant pot, which is a Persian soup filled with beans, I knew the yellow split peas would cook beautifully, as well. The only trick is cooking the stew in two parts, so that the stew meat is tender and the split peas are not mushy.

Ingredients you need

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• Beef stew meat: You use chunks of chuck roast, London broil or butcher cut stew meat.
• Seasonings: Salt, pepper, turmeric and cinnamon
• Pantry staples: All purpose flour, extra virgin olive oil, beef broth, tomato paste and canned diced tomatoes
• Onion: You can use brown or white onions.
• 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.

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. In a large bowl 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.

2. 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. Season onions with salt and turmeric. Stir in reserved stew meat and brown meat all over.

4. When meat is browned, add beef broth. Using a wooden spoon, scrape bottom of pot to remove browned bits.

5. Stir in tomato paste until combined then stir in diced tomatoes.

6. 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. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

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. So 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!

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