Important for Vegetarians – Omitting the meat from this recipe, will make this Dal a Vegetarian Dhansak Dal.
Click here to see Video for Parsi Dhansak for the good times with full Dhansak recipe.
Also known as parsi masala dal.
Note: You will need a pressure cooker also known as Instant Pot.
Ingredients
1 cup yellow lentils (arhar/tuvar daal)
60 gm pumpkin-peeled and diced (about 1/2 cup)
60 gm egg plant/baingan-diced
1 cup fenugreek leaves (methi)-washed and chopped
1 large (125 gm) potato-peeled and diced
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 Tbsp salt
1/4 cup (60 gm) oil
1 cup grated onions (250 gm)
2 tsp ginger paste (2 tbsp chopped)
1 cup grated tomatoes (250 gm)
3 Tbsp Dhansak masala
1 Tbsp lemon juice
Method
For the dal mixture:
Cook the dal with pumpkin, eggplant, fenugreek leaves, potatoes, turmeric, a pinch of salt and some water.
Final preparation:
Heat oil. Saute onions, garlic and ginger, till they turn light brown.
Add the tomatoes and dhansak masala and saute till fat separates.
Add the dal mixture, bring to a boil, then simmer for about 5 minutes.
Mash up all to a smooth puree.
Shut the flame and add lemon juice.
Serve hot with brown rice.
methi leaves – small or big?
Methi leaves can be big or small. Do chop them fine, so they blend into the dal. 🙂
For those with allergic reaction to brinjal which vegetable could be a substitute? Are there other combinations of vegetables that can be used in dhansak?
Hi Chandran, you can leave the brinjal out of the dhansak dal. Not a big taste difference.
Other vegetables to use are pumpkin (kohru), tomatoes, potatoes, onions, garlic pod and fresh dhania (coriander leaves). Use one of each. I also add fresh sprig of mint if available.
Rita
What is the dhansak masala ? Link please?
http://www.parsicuisine.com/dhanshak-masala/
Recipe is in my cookbook. Manna of the 21st century Parsi cuisine by Rita Jamshed Kapadia. Available on amazon.com