Vegetable Dhansak

Name: Vegetable Dhansak
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Cuisine: British
Ingredients: 3 large tomatoes, finely chopped or puréed; 200 ml water; 1 tsp ground coriander; ½ tsp ground cumin; 3–4 tbsp sunflower, vegetable or rapeseed oil; 3–4 tbsp sunflower, vegetable or rapeseed oil; 1 large onion, finely chopped; 3–4 tbsp sunflower, vegetable or rapeseed oil; 2 tbsp sunflower, vegetable or rapeseed oil; 1 whole aubergine, 2 large carrots, 250 g butternut squash or pumpkin or swede; 2 tbsp sunflower, vegetable or rapeseed oil; 2 tbsp sunflower, vegetable or rapeseed oil; 2 tsp dhansak masala, store-bought or homemade; 2-inch (30 g) piece of fresh ginger, finely grated or 1 tsp ginger paste; 1 tsp Kashmiri chilli powder; 2 tsp dhansak masala, store-bought or homemade; 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped or grated or 1 heaped tsp garlic paste; 1½ tsp fine salt; 2-inch (30 g) piece of fresh ginger, finely grated or 1 tsp ginger paste; 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped or grated or 1 heaped tsp garlic paste; 100 g red split lentils/masoor dal; 100 g yellow moong/mung dal; 100 g yellow moong/mung dal; 100 g yellow toor/pigeon dal or chana dal; 100 g red split lentils/masoor dal; 1 whole aubergine, 2 large carrots, 250 g butternut squash or pumpkin or swede; 1 whole aubergine, 2 large carrots, 250 g butternut squash or pumpkin or swede; 1 whole aubergine, 2 large carrots, 250 g butternut squash or pumpkin or swede; 1 whole aubergine, 2 large carrots, 250 g butternut squash or pumpkin or swede; 100 g yellow toor/pigeon dal or chana dal

Preparation info

Serves
4–6

Difficulty
Easy
Ready in
1 hr 15

Appears in

Seven Kitchens

By Torie True

Published 2025

About

If there is one recipe that screams Parsi food the loudest, it would undoubtedly be dhansak. Usually made with lamb or chicken, it can be equally delicious with vegetables which is the version I’ve made here. Dhansak is held in the same esteem as our Sunday roasts are in the UK. Many people are put off making it at home by the amount of ingredients and steps, so I have broken it down and made it easier and quicker, without compromising the flavour.

Ingredients

Europe
Asia
United Kingdom
Iran
India
Persia
Main course
Vegan
Mediterranean
Gluten-free

Ingredients

Method