Easy Chicken Dhansak recipe isf a delicious, mouth-watering Parsi-style chicken curry. The basic chicken dhansak ingredients for the healthy chicken curry recipe are chicken, nutritious lentils, vegetables, and flavorful spices.
This chicken dhansak Parsi-style recipe tastes very authentic, like restaurant style. Check how to make dhansak chicken curry with lentils at home.
Chicken dhansak is a very easy, tasty, and simple curry that can be prepared in 45 minutes. It is prepared with the special dhansak masala, which makes the dish more delicious.
My favourite dhansak chicken curry Parsi style dish, that our family and friends enjoy is this one. It enhances the flavour of the dhansak. Also, balances its tanginess, spiciness, and sweetness.
Instead of chicken, try using another ingredient like mutton, lamb, vegetables, or paneer in this dhansak recipe. Only adjust the cooking time when using another ingredient.
Also, try our other chicken recipes like Goan Chicken Cafreal and Kolhapuri Chicken Curry. Also, this cooking pan is for further cooking
What Is Chicken Dhansak?
Dhansak chicken is a very popular Parsi dish, influenced by Persian and Indian cooking. This traditional dhansak is very nourishing as it is made using meat cooked with lentils and vegetables. It’s really a healthy and easy chicken dhansak recipe.
Check Other Sweet Dishes
Is it necessary to soak the lentils before cooking?
Yes, it is better to soak the lentils before cooking, as it saves cooking time and gets evenly cooked. Soaking also gets the perfect dhansak consistency.
Tips For Cooking Chicken Dhansak
- Marinate the chicken: For a better flavor, marinate the chicken pieces overnight or at least 30 minutes before cooking. The longer the chicken is marinated, it will enhance the dhansak flavour.
- Boneless And Skinless Chicken: Use chicken thighs and breasts (boneless and skinless) to make a healthy chicken dhansak.
- Lentils soaking: It is better to soak the lentils for at least 30 minutes or overnight to reduce the cooking time.
- Onions Caramelisation: It is better to fry these onions till they get golden brown. Fry them on medium heat, stirring, taking your own time.
- Chicken Variations: You can also prepare this dhansak with mutton, lamb, and vegetables. The cooking time will only vary.
What Are Chicken Dhansak Ingredients
To make dhansak chicken, you need the following simple chicken dhansak ingredients, easily available in the market.
- boneless chicken
- lentils (toor dal, moong dal, chana dal, and masoor dal)
- vegetables (brinjals, carrot, potato, red pumpkin)
- herbs (methi leaves, mint leaves, and coriander leaves)
- bay leaves
- ginger garlic paste
- onions
- tomatoes
- masalas (turmeric powder, chilli powder, dhansak masala)
- vegetable oil
- lemon juice
How To Make Chicken Dhansak Recipe
- Preparation: First, take a large bowl and soak the lentils in sufficient water for at least 3 hours or overnight. Also, marinate the chicken with 1 tablespoon of ginger-garlic paste and salt overnight or at least 30 minutes before cooking.
- Cook Lentils and Vegetables: Transfer the soaked lentils with the water to the pressure cooker. Add chopped onion, diced brinjals, diced carrot, diced potatoes, and diced pumpkin. Add the chopped fenugreek (methi leaves), chopped mint leaves (pudina), coriander leaves, 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder, and salt.
- Add more water if necessary and cover the cooker. Pressure cook for 4 - 5 whistles. Let the cooker cool naturally, then blend the mixture very well for a thick consistency.
- Cook Dhansak Chicken: In a large pan, heat oil on medium heat, and fry the bay leaves for a few seconds. Then add the 2 chopped onions and sauté till golden brown. Add the ginger garlic paste, and stir fry for about 1 minute. Then add 1/2 turmeric powder, red chili powder, dhansak masala, and salt. Sauté, stirring for another minute or till fragrant. Add the tomatoes, and sauté, stirring occasionally for 2 - 3 minutes or till it get soft and pulpy.
- Add the marinated chicken, and mix well. Cook well with this masala for 4 - 5 minutes. Add 1 cup of water, stir well, cover, and get it cooked for 10 - 12 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then add the dal mixture and mix it well with the chicken. Bring it to a boil and simmer for 4 - 5 minutes. Add the lemon juice, stir well, and simmer for another 2 minutes. Adjust the seasoning with salt, and serve chicken dhansak Parsi style with fresh coriander sprinkled.
How To Serve Dhansak Chicken
This delicious chicken dhansak recipe that combines chicken, lentils, and spices goes well with brown rice, pulao rice, steamed boiled basmati rice, naan bread, roti, and refreshing cucumber raita. This can also be served with pickles and chutneys. It is a very satisfying Indian meal.
Also, Check Other Veg Recipes
F.A.Qs
1. What does Chicken Dhansak taste like?
It’s a perfect blend of sweet, spicy, and tangy flavors with a creamy lentil base.
2. Is Chicken Dhansak spicy?
It’s mildly spicy, but you can adjust the heat by reducing or increasing chili powder.
3. Can I use canned lentils?
Freshly cooked lentils give better texture, but canned ones work in a pinch if drained and rinsed.
4. What is traditionally served with Dhansak?
It’s served with caramelised brown rice and sometimes with a fresh salad or papad.
5. Can Chicken Dhansak be made ahead of time?
Absolutely! The flavours deepen after a day, making leftovers even tastier.
Also, Check Our Meat Recipes
Equipments Used
- Pressure cooker - to cook lentils and veggies, use the pressure cooker (use either Instant Pot or pressure cooker)
- Knife: It is a special knife for chicken dicing.
- Cooking pan: a deep cooking pan for making dhansak chicken.
Chicken Dhansak Recipe {Easy and Healthy}, Dhansak Parsi Recipe
Ingredients
Lentils
- 1/4 cup toor dal (split yellow pigeon peas)
- 1/4 cup masoor dal (split red lentils)
- 1/4 cup moong dal (split green gram)
- 1/4 cup chana dal (split Bengal gram)
- water (to cook and soak lentils)
Chicken Marination
- 500 grams skinless and boneless chicken pieces diced (mostly thighs or breasts)
- 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
- salt (according to taste)
Chicken Dhansak
- 1 + 2 medium onions chopped
- 2 small brinjals (aubergine) (diced)
- 1 medium carrot (diced)
- 1 medium potato (peeled and diced)
- 100 grams red pumpkin (diced)
- 4 tbsp fresh methi leaves chopped (fenugreek leaves)
- 1 tbsp fresh mint leaves chopped (pudina)
- 1 tbsp Fresh coriander leaves chopped
- 1/2 + 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil or sunflower oil
- 2 large bay leaves
- 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- 1/2 tsp red chilli powder
- 2 tbsp dhansak masala
- 2 tomatoes chopped
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- fresh coriander leaves chopped (for garnish)
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Instructions
Preparation
- First, take a large bowl and soak the lentils in sufficient water for at least 3 hours or overnight.
- Also, marinate the chicken with 1 tablespoon of ginger-garlic paste and salt overnight or at least 30 minutes before cooking.
Cook Lentils and Vegetables
- Transfer the soaked lentils with the water to the pressure cooker.
- Add chopped onion, diced brinjals, diced carrot, diced potatoes, and diced pumpkin.
- Add the chopped fenugreek (methi leaves), chopped mint leaves (pudina), coriander leaves, 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder, and salt.
- Add more water if necessary and cover the cooker. Pressure cook for 4 - 5 whistles. Let the cooker cool naturally, then blend the mixture very well for a thick consistency.
Cook Dhansak Chicken
- In a large pan, heat oil on medium heat, and fry the bay leaves for a few seconds. Then add the 2 chopped onions and sauté till golden brown.
- Add the ginger garlic paste, and stir fry for about 1 minute. Then add 1/2 turmeric powder, red chili powder, dhansak masala, and salt. Sauté, stirring for another minute or till fragrant.
- Add the tomatoes, and sauté, stirring occasionally for 2 - 3 minutes or till it get soft and pulpy.
- Add the marinated chicken, and mix well. Cook well with this masala for 4 - 5 minutes. Add 1 cup of water, stir well, cover, and cook for 10 - 12 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Then add the dal mixture and mix it well with the chicken. Bring it to a boil and simmer for 4 - 5 minutes.
- Add the lemon juice, stir well, and simmer for another 2 minutes. Adjust the seasoning with salt, and serve chicken dhansak Parsi style with fresh coriander sprinkled.
Notes
- it is better to use boneless chicken diced and skinless. Also, chicken breasts and thighs go well.
- soak the lentils before cooking, it will reduce cooking time.
- chicken can be replaced by mutton or lamb.
Nice Parsi recipe to taste for festivals
Our favorite Parsi recipe, this chicken dhansak prepared it yesterday goes well well.