Veg Dhansak

Ingredients

• ½ cup toor dal
• ¼ cup channa dal
• ¼ cup mung dal
• ¼ cup masoor dal
• 1 ½ tbsp. ginger and garlic paste each
• 1 tbsp red chilli powder
• 1 tsp haldi powder
• Salt to taste
• 4 medium onions finely chopped
• 6 tomatoes finely chopped
• 7 -8 green chilli paste
• ¼ kg yellow pumpkin
• ¼ cup mint leaves
• ½ cup methi leaves
• 3-4 bay leaves
• 3 tbsp oil
• 1 cup fresh coriander chopped
• Dhansak Masala
• 2” cinnamon
• 1 tsp dry coriander seeds
• 2 tsp jeera
• 10 cloves
• 10 peppercorns
• ¼ tsp rai
• Grind this to a fine powder

Method

1. – Wash all the dals together.
2. – Wash the mint, the pumpkin and the methi and chop the pumpkin into small pieces.
3. – Add the mint, pumpkin and the methi to the dal and pressure cook till the dals are cooked and then mash it thoroughly.
4. – Heat the oil in a kadai and add the finely chopped onions and sauté them till they are golden brown.
5. – Add the ginger, garlic and chilli paste and sauté again.
6. – Then add the tomatoes and sauté till oil oozes.
7. – Then add the ground masala powder along with the vegetable puree.
8. – Add the boiled dals and mix well.
9. – Add the salt and the coriander leaves and boil on a low flame for 10 minutes.
10. – Serve this dhansak with brown rice and kachumhar to 7-8 people.
11. Brown Rice Method:
12. – Heat the ghee in a pan and add the cardamoms, cloves, peppercorns and cinnamon and sauté for a few seconds
13. – Add the rice after you drain the water and sauté it for a minute
14. – Add 2 tsp of water to the sugar and caramelize it and pour into the rice
15. – Mix it well. Add salt and 4 cups of water and cover and cook till the rice is done and serve with the dhansak dal