Ash-e Anar Recipe: Persian Pomegranate Soup
Ash-e anar is a Persian pomegranate soup — a hearty blend of rice, herbs, walnuts, and tiny meatballs in a tangy-sweet pomegranate broth. It’s a lesser-known cousin of fesenjan, sharing the same pomegranate-and-walnut backbone in soup form instead of a stew.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup rice
- 1/2 lb ground meat, rolled into small meatballs (optional, for a heartier soup)
- 1 package aush herb blend (or a mix of fresh parsley, cilantro, and mint)
- 1/2 cup walnuts, ground or finely chopped
- 1/3 cup pomegranate paste (rob anar)
- 1-2 tablespoons sugar (adjust to balance the tartness)
- Salt, pepper, and a pinch of dried mint, to taste
Instructions
- Rinse the rice and add it to a pot with water or broth. Bring to a simmer.
- If using meatballs, gently drop them into the simmering pot along with the rice.
- Stir in the herb blend and ground walnuts, and simmer for 25-30 minutes until the rice is tender and the soup thickens.
- Whisk in the pomegranate paste and sugar, tasting and adjusting the balance of tart and sweet as you go.
- Simmer another 10 minutes to let the flavors come together, season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of dried mint, and serve hot.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ash-e anar?
Ash-e anar is a Persian pomegranate soup made with rice, herbs, ground walnuts, and pomegranate paste, often with small meatballs — a tangy-sweet, hearty soup traditionally eaten in the fall and winter.
What’s the difference between ash-e anar and fesenjan?
Both share the same tangy pomegranate-and-walnut flavor base, but fesenjan is a thick stew served over rice, while ash-e anar is a soup with the rice cooked directly into the broth.
Can I make ash-e anar vegetarian?
Yes — simply skip the meatballs. The herbs, walnuts, and pomegranate paste carry the dish’s signature flavor on their own.
How do I balance the sweet and sour flavor?
Start with less sugar than you think you need, taste after the pomegranate paste is stirred in, and add more sugar gradually — pomegranate paste brands vary in tartness, so it’s easier to add sweetness than remove it.
Shop the Ingredients
Get everything you need for authentic ash-e anar from Goaldees (also searched as Goldis), shipped fresh, nationwide across the US. Shop Persian rob (pomegranate paste and more) and nuts.
Curious about other Persian food terms? See our Persian food glossary.
Want the full rundown of Persian nuts — pistachios, almonds, walnuts, and more? See our Persian Nuts Guide.
