Dhansak is a hearty, healthy and delicious vegetable and lentil preparation. It is a traditional Parsi lentil dish. This Dhansak recipe also features the Dhansak masala that gives this preparation that extra punch.
Pick and rinse the lentils first a few times in water.
Mix all the chopped veggies, tomatoes and lentils together in a 4 to 5 litre stovetop pressure cooker.
Add 4 cups water and pressure cook the lentils and veggies till they are tender and completely cooked.
When the pressure falls naturally in the cooker, then only open the lid. Let this mixture become warm or cool.
Then blend until fine using hand-held blender or in a high-speed blender or grinder.
You could also strain the lentils and veggie mixture through a strainer and mash as you pass them through the strainer.
Making the tamarind pulp
Take about ½ tablespoon of tamarind and soak it in 1 to 2 tablespoons of warm to hot water for 20 to 30 minutes.
When the tamarind becomes soft, your pulp is almost ready. Squeeze the tamarind with your palm and extract the juices in the same bowl.
Preparing the dhansak masala
Meanwhile when the veggies and lentils mixture is cooling, grind all the ingredients listed above, under the heading "For the dhansak masala" with some water to a fine and smooth paste.
Keep the dhansak masala paste aside.
Making Dhansak
Heat ghee in a pan or pot.
Add chopped onions and sauté them till they soften.
Add the ground dhansak masala paste and sauté it for 3 to 4 minutes or until the oil separates on low to medium-low heat.
Now add the mashed lentils and veggie mixture.
Simmer for a 5 to 6 minutes and then add the tamarind pulp.
For a slightly thinner consistency, you can add some hot water.
Simmer for some 5 minutes or more till the raw aroma and taste of the tamarind goes away.
Serve the Veg Dhansak hot with brown rice or steamed basmati rice or even with veg pulao, jeera rice or ghee rice.
Notes
Add veggies that you have in your kitchen, but do make sure to add pumpkin as it gives a wonderful flavor and taste.
You could make dhansak with only one kind of lentil or a mix of three to five lentils. The lentils that can be used are: tuvar dal, chana dal, masoor dal and moong dal.
If you have Instant Pot or an electric pressure cooker, cook the lentils and vegetables in either adding water as needed.