Dhansak (Chicken with Lentils)

Ingredients:

• • 1 cup mixed lentils - toor, masoor, urad and moong (1/4 cup each)

  • 500 grams chicken pieces of your choice - boneless

  • 1 tsp. turmeric powder

  • 1/4 tsp. grated nutmeg

  • 1 large bunch each of fresh coriander leaves and fenugreek leaves (approximately 150 gms/ 0.33 lbs each)

  • 1/2 bunch mint leaves (approximately 75 gms/ 0.17 lbs)

  • 1 tbsp. tamarind paste

  • 1 tbsp. garlic paste

  • 1 tbsp. ginger paste

  • 2 tbsps. vegetable/ canola/ sunflower cooking oil

  • 1 liter chicken stock

  • •Salt to taste

Spices To Roast:

• • •10 black peppercorns

  • •8 cloves

  • •1"piece cinnamon

  • •1" piece of mace

  • •2 large bay leaves

  • •1 star anise

  • •3 dry red chilies

  • •1 tbsp. cumin seeds

  • •1 tbsp. coriander seeds

  • •1/2 tsp. fenugreek seeds

  • •1 tsp. sesame seeds

Preparation:

• 1. Wash the lentils well. Put them in a Dutch oven, add the chicken stock and a cup of water. Boil till the lentils are soft. Add more water if required.

  2. While the lentils are boiling. Heat a griddle or heavy-bottomed flat pan on a medium flame and dry roast all the spices (except the turmeric and nutmeg) till they begin to release their aroma. Remove from the fire, cool and then grind to a fine powder in a dry coffee or spice grinder. Mix in the turmeric and nutmeg and blend well. Keep aside.

  3. When the lentils are cooked soft, use a hand blender to get a smooth soup-like consistency. Keep aside.

  4. Heat the cooking oil in a pan on a medium flame and when hot, add the fresh coriander, fenugreek and mint leaves to it. Fry till soft. Remove from the fire and cool. Grind into a smooth paste in a food processor.

  5. To the lentils in the Dutch oven add ginger, garlic and tamarind pastes and bring to a boil, stirring frequently to prevent sticking. The consistency should always be like a medium-thick soup. Add a cup of water, the spice powder and coriander-fenugreek-mint paste you made earlier, salt if required and the chicken pieces. Mix well.

  6. Simmer and cook till chicken is done. Add more water to maintain consistency.