Dhansak-Dhansak recipe-How to make Dhansak

How to prepare Dhansak
Serves -5-6

Ingredients needed

Onion -2 (finely chopped)
Tomato -3 Big and juicy ones
Ginger -1 inch piece
Garlic – 3 cloves
Green chilli – 1
Salt as required

Spice Powder

Turmeric Powder – 1/4 tsp
Chilli Powder – 1 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder – 1 tbsp
Garam Masala – 1 tsp

Lentils

Tur Dal – 1 1/2 tbsp
Moong dal /split green gram – 1 1/2 tbsp
Masoor dal – 1 1/2 tbsp
Channa dal /Bengal gram – 1 1/2 tbsp
Urad dal – 1 1/2 tbsp
Black eye pea – 1 1/2 tbsp
Fresh or dry field beans (Mochai)- 1 1/2 tbsp
Garbanzo beans (kabuli channa,kondai kadalai) – 1 1/2 tbsp

Vegetables

Carrot -1
Beans -4-5
Potato – 1
Radish – 1
Pumpkin – 1/3 cup
Ash gourd – 1/3 cup

There are no hard and fast rules. You can add less or more of any vegetables but pumpkin is a must for this recipe.

Greens

Fenugreek leaves /Methi – handful
Mint leaves – handful
Spinach leaves – handful
Coriander leaves -handful

For the Dhansak Masala

Cumin seeds – 1 tsp
Whole black Pepper -1/2 tsp
Coriander seeds -1 tsp
Red chilli -1
Sesame seeds – 1/4 tsp
Fennel seeds ( Sombu)- 1/2 tsp

Dry roast everything separately and grind it adding little water.Keep it aside.

For the seasoning

Oil – 2 tbsp
Fennel seeds – 1 tsp
Bay leaf -1

Now do not get intimidated by the long list of ingredients above. Actually the preparation is very simple.

Preparation

Grind green chilli, ginger and garlic to a fine paste.(g-g-g) Keep it aside.

Soak black eyed pea, channa and field beans overnight. This step is needed only if you are using dried ones.

Wash and chop vegetables and greens. Keep aside.

Soak all the lentils/dal for 20 minutes in hot water so that they will get cooked faster and energy is also saved.

Puree tomatoes in a blender.

Method

• Pressure cook all the lentils, greens and vegetables with little water for 4 whistles and keep it aside.

• Heat oil and add fennel seeds, bay leaf, when fennel sizzles, add finely chopped onions and saute till it turns brown stirring continuously.
• Add ginger garlic and chilli paste and saute for some more time.

• Add tomato puree,dhansak masala and all the spice powder. Cook till oil separates.
• Then add the pressure cooked vegetables+lentils mix, needed salt and little water.

• Cook for a few minutes until everything gets blended well.

  Serve hot with pulao or any Indian bread.

  Meet you all again with another interesting recipe, till then it is bye from Padhu of Padhuskitchen.