Vegetarian Dhansak

Dhansak is a very famous Parsi dish.  I got the basic recipe from a friend. I have added fried yam instead of meat and my veg . version of Dhansak was ready.

Ingredients  : Serves 3

For dal

Tur dal                       1/4 cup

Masoor dal                  1/4 cup

Moong dal                   1/8 cup

Chana dal                   1/8 cup

Brinjal                        1 ( thin and long variety ) cut into cubes

Yellow pumpkin          1/2 cup cut into cubes

Fenugreek leaves        1 cup  chopped

Tamarind paste           2 tbsp

Coriander                  1 tbsp ( leaves and stalks)

Mint leaves                1 tbsp

Salt                           to taste

Jaggery                    1 tbsp

Yam                         1 cup cubed.

Salt                          1 /2 tsp+1/2 tsp

Turmeric                  1/2 tsp

Oil                           2 tsp

Water                      1 1/2 cups

For wet paste 

Coriander seeds        1 tsp

Cumin seeds             1 tsp

Whole red chilly       2

Cinnamon                1" piece

Cloves                     2

Green Cardamom     3

Peppercorns            5

Garlic cloves           4

Green chill              1/2

Ginger                    2 tsp. (chopped)

Tomato                  1 small chopped

Coriander               1/4 cup ( leaves and stalks)

Dry powder

Green Cardamom    2

Star anise               1

Cloves                   2

Peppercorns           4

Whole red chilly     1

Cumin                    1 tsp

Method :

1. Wash and soak the dals for 4 hours or overnite.
2. Dry roast all ingredients for dry powder and pound them in mortar and pestle.
3. Dry roast all dry ingredients for wet masala  . Make a fine paste of all ingredients  mentioned under wet masala ,  using little water.
4. Cook all ingredients mentioned under dal in 2 cups of water until done.
5. Cool and liquidise.
6. Wash and cut yam into cubes.
7. Marinade with salt and turmeric pd for 1 hour.
8. Wash properly and pat it dry on a clean kitchen towel.
9. Deep fry till golden.
10. Pressure cook fried yam in little water and salt for 3 whistles.
11. Heat oil in a pan and fry the wet masala for 2-3 minutes till the raw smell disappears.
12. Add this masala and liquidised dal to cooked yam. Add 1 1 /2 cup water. Bring it to a boil. Stir in dry masala pd.
13. Cook for 10 minutes on low heat.
14. Serve with Dhansak rice.