Potage of Lentils and Vegetables

Dhansak is our emblematic Parsi dish—the one we’re named after by anyone who characterizes people by what they eat. It’s a richly spiced puree of several lentils and vegetables, usually cooked with meat or chicken and invariably served with an unusual pilaf of slightly caramelized rice with aromatics. Sometimes, such as at weddings, this dal is served with pulao, in which case it changes its name to masala ni dar.

For most Pars