Easy & Customisable Dhansak Recipe – A Hearty One-Pot Dish
A rich, spiced dish made with lentils (dhal), chicken or meat (lamb/mutton), and vegetables. Packed with flavour and perfect for a comforting meal!
Preparation Time: 1 hour
Grinding Dhansak Spice Mix: 15 minutes
Chopping onions, tomatoes, and vegetables: 15 minutes
Soaking lentils and rice: 30 minutes (while preparing other ingredients)
Cooking Time: 1 hour 30 minutes – 2 hours
Sautéing onions, ginger-garlic paste, and browning chicken: 15 minutes
Cooking the dhansak curry: 45 minutes – 1 hour (depending on meat and lentil tenderness)
Cooking the rice: 15–20 minutes
Tip: A pressure cooker or Instant Pot can shorten the cooking time.
Ingredients
For the Dhansak Spice Mix:
2 tbsp coriander seeds- 1 tbsp cumin seeds
- 1 tbsp mustard seeds
- 1 tbsp fenugreek seeds
1 tbsp black peppercorns
4–5 green cardamom pods- 2–3 cloves
1 cinnamon stick
1 dried red chilli
For the Dhansak Curry:
1 cup red lentils, washed and soaked for 30 minutes
500g chicken (or lamb/vegetables), cut into pieces
1 cup mixed vegetables (carrots, potatoes, aubergine, etc.)
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 tomatoes, chopped
3 tbsp ginger-garlic paste- 2 tbsp dhansak spice mix (adjust to taste)
1 tsp turmeric powder- 1 tsp red chilli powder
Salt to taste
Oil for cooking- Fresh coriander leaves for garnish
For the Dhansak Rice:
- 1 cup basmati rice, washed and soaked for 30 minutes
- 2 cups water
- Salt to taste
Instructions
Prepare Dhansak Spice Mix
- Dry roast all whole spices for the spice mix in a pan until fragrant.
- Grind them into a fine powder using a spice grinder or mortar and pestle.
Cook Dhansak Curry
- Heat oil in a large pot and sauté the chopped onions until golden brown.
- Add the ginger-garlic paste and cook for 2 minutes until the raw smell disappears.
- Add the chicken/lamb/vegetables and brown them on all sides.
- Stir in the dhansak spice mix, turmeric, and red chilli powder. Cook for a few minutes.
- Add the chopped tomatoes and cook until soft, with oil separating from the masala.
- Add the soaked lentils and mixed vegetables. Stir well.
- Pour enough water to cover the ingredients, add salt, and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until lentils and meat are tender.
Prepare Dhansak Rice
- In a separate pot, bring water to a boil and add salt.
- Drain the soaked rice and add it to the boiling water.
- Cook until 70–80% done, then drain excess water.
Finish Dhansak
- Once the lentils, meat, and vegetables are cooked, adjust seasoning if needed.
- Serve the dhansak curry over the partially cooked rice.
- Finish cooking the rice and dhansak together until rice is fully cooked.
Garnish and Serve
- Garnish with fresh coriander leaves and sliced chillies.
Serve hot with naan or rice.
Serving Suggestion: Pair with raita, salad, or pickle for an authentic experience!
Enjoy this delicious, comforting Dhansak – a perfect balance of lentils, spices, and meat or vegetables!
