Parsi Style Vegetable Dhansak Recipe- Parsi Vegetable Dal

Parsi Cuisine is one of the traditional cuisine of the Parsis of India. Parsis are known for their love for good food, good music. Parsi cuisine has a West Indian cuisine influence. They also retain their food flavors and techniques from ancient Persian cuisine. One of the most popular Parsi foods is Dhansak. It’s traditionally meat and vegetables cooked in lentils. A very flavorful special masala called the dhansak masala makes this dish special and unique. Though Parsis are enthusiastic non-vegetarians, they have some delicious vegetarian recipes too. Course : Dinner Ingridients : 1/2 cup Arhar dal (Split Toor Dal) 1/2 cup Yellow Moong Dal (Split) 1/2 cup Chana dal (Bengal Gram Dal) 50 grams Methi Leaves (Fenugreek Leaves) , roughly chopped 20 Mint Leaves (Pudina) , roughly chopped 2 Green Chillies , finely chopped 2 Small Brinjal (Baingan / Eggplant) , diced 1 cup Kaddu (Parangikai/ Pumpkin) , diced 2 Turnips , diced 1 Onions , thinly sliced 1 teaspoon Turmeric powder (Haldi) For Seasoning 1 Onion , thinly sliced 2 Tomatoes , roughly chopped 2 teaspoon Oil , or ghee 1 tablespoon Lemon juice Salt , to taste Water , as required For dhansak masala paste 3 cloves Garlic 2 inch Ginger 2 Green Chillies 1-1/2 teaspoon Whole Black Peppercorns 1-1/2 teaspoon Cumin seeds (Jeera) 5 Cloves (Laung) 1 inch Cinnamon Stick (Dalchini) 1 tablespoon Coriander (Dhania) Seeds Instructions To begin making the Vegetable Dhansak Recipe, we will first get all the ingredients ready and then proceed to make the Dhansak Masala. To make dhansak masala, grind all the ingredients mentioned under the list adding very little water to make a smooth paste. Keep the masala aside. Wash and roughly chop all the vegetables. Pick fenugreek leaves, mint leaves,  wash and chop them. Keep these aside.Soak all the 3 dals separately for about 30 minutes.Once soaked, place all three dals, vegetables, fenugreek leaves and mint leaves along with 1 thinly sliced onion, green chili and a teaspoon of turmeric powder in a pressure cooker. Add salt, and 3 cups of water. Cover the pressure cooker and cook until you hear 2 whistles. After 2 whistles turn the heat to low and simmer for another 3 to 4 minutes and turn off the heat.Allow the pressure to release naturally from the cooker. Once the pressure settles down, open the lid of the pressure cooker and mash all the ingredients using a potato masher until all the dals and vegetables get a smooth texture.   In a heavy bottom pan, heat oil or ghee. Add the other thinly sliced onions and sauté until it turns soft. Next add chopped tomatoes and cook till tomatoes turns soft and releases its juices. Stir in the dhansak masala paste and cook until the raw smell of the paste is gone. This would take about 4 to 5 minutes.Pour the dal vegetable mashed mixture into this masala and cook on low heat for about 10 to 20 minutes.Once well simmered, turn of the heat and squeeze in the lemon juice and add in the chopped coriander leaves. Stir well and the Vegetable Dhansak is ready. Serve the Vegetable Dhansak along with brown rice or a Homemade Butter Naan for a wholesome weeknight dinner.